Prev: Re: Soap bubbles? Next: RE: Tech for walkers one step closer

Tech for walkers one step closer

From: "B Lin" <lin@r...>
Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2003 12:20:09 -0700
Subject: Tech for walkers one step closer

http://www.abcnews.go.com/sections/scitech/FutureTech/nanomuscles030218.
html

Was reading ABC news today and came across this article.  It says that a
matchstick sized "muscle" is capable of moving 200 g weights with 1/5
the energy consumption of an equivalent strngth motor.	Strength is
dependent on fiber diameter and the company says that increasing the
fiber diameter from 50 microns to 150 microns would increase the lifting
power 9-fold.

The previous limiting factor to SMA (Smart Metal Alloys) was fatigue or
stress failures that lead to inconsistent contraction after only 1000
uses.  More refined particles and techniques have lead this company to
produce a muscle that will contract one million times.

Can Battletech "myomer muscles" be far behind?

--Binhan

Prev: Re: Soap bubbles? Next: RE: Tech for walkers one step closer