RE: Tech for walkers one step closer

On top of this article I am surprised at how many people have missed the
whole Segue thing, remember "IT" or Ginger?  The gyroscoping technology
involved in that is a huge step towards walker tech as well, imho.

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: B Lin [mailto:lin@rxkinetix.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2003 1:20 PM
To: gzg-l@csua.berkeley.edu
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
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