Ultrastrong Spider Silk May Be Used As Robotic Muscles

[Judi Lynn]

1 March 2019, 9:53 pm EST By Athena Chan Tech Times

Spider silk is already known as one of the strongest materials for its weight, but researchers discovered an unusual property of the material that could make it useful in robotics. Its “supercontraction” could lead to the creation of new types of artificial muscles.

Spider Silk Robot Muscles
A team of researchers discovered a property of spider silk called “supercontraction” wherein the fibers of spider silk shrink in response to moisture changes. When it happens, the fibers don’t just contract but also twist, thereby providing strong torsional force.

On its own, spider silk is already known as one of the strongest materials, with incredible strength-to-weight ratio, resilience, and toughness. Although the researchers are unsure as to how supercontraction is used by spiders, this discovery could lead to the creation of silk-based materials that behave in response to humidity, or it may also be replicated in synthetic materials to replicate the behavior.

“Potential applications are diverse: from humidity-driven soft robots and sensors, to smart textiles and green energy generators,” said Anna Tarakanova, assistant professor at the University of Connecticut and coauthor of the paper.

More:
https://www.techtimes.com/articles/239080/20190301/ultrastrong-spider-silk-may-be-used-as-robotic-muscles.htm

[Beartracks]

1. Makes me think of the Westworld opening credits...

https://www.stashmedia.tv/patrick-clair-opens-westworld-hbo/

===========