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threedigits writes:
"The technology to build giant robots is one bit step closer: a group of international researchers have published a paper describing a method to create artificial muscle fibres. The cool thing is that they are about 100 times stronger than biological muscle tissue, and you can try it at home! The basis is polyethylene or nylon string, AKA fishing line. A great video is available on Hack A Day."
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Researchers Create DIY Artificial Muscles
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Remember Darwin; building a better mousetrap merely results in smarter mice.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Boxzy on Sunday March 02 2014, @10:49PM
I'm pretty sure simply using mirror pairs of twists would remove the effects of torsion.
My problem with this is that heating and cooling will be quite slow, you wouldn't want to try designing a robot that needs reflexes with this, I imagine each contraction and relaxation would take on the order of seconds.
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(Score: 3, Interesting) by frojack on Sunday March 02 2014, @11:17PM
Good point regarding the pairs of opposite twists.
But if you had a flexible heat wire embedded in the twist, (or a core around which the twist is wound), you could probably apply that heat fairly quickly, relative to size of the over all device. Embedding a small amount of metal in the fish-line might make controlling it with microwave heating fairly quick.
But yeah, the heat gun clearly isn't going to work.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1) by Boxzy on Monday March 03 2014, @09:12PM
No matter how much energy you can put into heating super fast, cooling is always going to be slow. As many of us are computer engineers removing heat is something we all are familiar with.
Top three cooling methods in order of difficulty:
1. Air cooling, far too slow for this application but probably low power and weight enough for mobility.
2. Peltier cooling, Too high power requirements, quicker but how are you going to ensure a good contact with a coil that increases in size when hot? Highly impractical.
3. Good old water, will retard heating just as it is good for cooling. Still slow.
Are there any other options?
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