Modern army robots use batteries that power motors, which then drive axles and turn wheels. A biohybrid-powered robot would replace this entire system with lab-grown organic muscle tissue that might power artificial legs or other limbs. Electrical impulses or chemical actuation would control the muscles.
A cheetah can run up to 50 miles per hour across uneven grassland, thanks to muscles and tendons. Could military robots do the same thing? AvalonGetty Images
One of the major advantages of using organic muscle tissue is its inherent flexibility. Muscles and tendons can flex, pull, and give as an animal moves over mixed terrain, and especially as it encounters unexpected problems.
Farrin Abbott
Ankle exoskeleton enables faster walking
The exoskeleton is externally powered by motors and controlled by an algorithm, and when optimized for speed, participants walked, on average, 42% faster.
Being unable to walk quickly can be frustrating and problematic, but it’s a common issue, especially as people age. Noting the pervasiveness of slower-than-desired walking, engineers at Stanford University have tested how well a prototype exoskeleton system they have developed – which attaches around the shin and into a running shoe – increased the self-selected walking speed of people in an experimental setting.
The exoskeleton is externally powered by motors and controlled by an algorithm. When the researchers optimized it for speed, participants walked, on average, 42% faster than when they were wearing normal shoes and no exoskeleton. The results of this study were published April 20 in
Courtesy of the researchers
Lobster’s underbelly mimicked; could lead to artificial tendons, ligaments
Synthetic gelatin-like material mimics lobster underbelly’s stretch and strength; the membrane’s structure could provide a blueprint for robust artificial tissues.
A lobster’s underbelly is lined with a thin, translucent membrane that is both stretchy and surprisingly tough. This marine under-armor, as
MIT engineers reported in 2019, is made from the toughest known hydrogel in nature, which also happens to be highly flexible. This combination of strength and stretch helps shield a lobster as it scrabbles across the seafloor, while also allowing it to flex back and forth to swim.
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Pentagon Science and Technology Executive Committee Announces Winner of FY21 Applied Research for Advancement of S&T Priorities
U.S. Department of Defense
The Department of Defense (DoD) Science and Technology Executive Committee (S&T ExCom), coordinated by the Office of the Under Secretary for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), is proud to announce the winner of the 2021 Applied Research for Advancement of S&T Priorities (ARAP) Program Award Competition.
“After careful deliberation by the S&T ExCom, I am delighted to announce that we have selected ‘Surface Morphing and Adaptive Structures for Hypersonics (SMASH)’ for this year’s ARAP Award,” said Dr.
Army technique allows for better robot coordination during battlefield operations theiet.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theiet.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.