SBIR-STTR Award

The goal of the proposed Phase I research is to explore the feasibility of developing a family of novel synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities, for a wide spectrum of NASA space robotic and EVA applications. In particular, configurations of interest may be in the form of multi-fingered biomimetic robotic hands to handle delicate and small space objects such as small samples of space rocks. Also, the fact that the proposed synthetic muscles can easily sustain the cold harsh environment of space and yet be biomimetic and noiseless and operational under low voltage (2-10 volts) is of significance to NASA related missions.

Potential Commercial Applications:
The same technology can also be used for many other applications including biomedical devices, industrial robotic arms and actuators, micro actuators, and so on. Many devices that are being consiered are related to aerospace, automotive, medical, animation, toys, entertainment, exoskeletons, robotics, active noise control, and smart structures.

The goal of the proposed Phase II program is to further develop a family of novel synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities for a wide spectrum of NASA space robotics and EVA applications. In particular, configurations of interest are in the form of contractile fiber-like linear actuators. The fact that the proposed synthetic fibrous muscles function well in the cold harsh environment of space and yet are biomimetic and noiseless is of significance to NASA related space missions. POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS The synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and soft actuation capabilities can be also utilized for terrestrial actuators, sensors, and transducers applications due to their unique performance