Development of Synthetic Muscle Systems for NASA Space Robotics/EVA Applications

Environmental Robots, Inc.

Albuquerque, NM

A family of novel synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities for NASA space robotics and EVA applications.

• Environmental Robots Incorporated (ERI) is a world leader in distributed biomimetic nanosensors and nanoactuators, biomimetic biomedical products for human health, artificial muscles and science kits, and more.
• Two families of ionic polymeric artificial muscles have been developed, one a bending, flexing, deforming type with sensing and actuation capabilities and one fibrous electrochemical contractile type with over 100% strain and strength and power density comparable to mammalian muscles.
• ERI owns many USPTO issued patents to support its product development activities.

• Synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and soft actuation capabilities can also be utilized for terrestrial actuators, sensors, and transducers applications due to their unique performance.
• To bring technology of chemically activated polymers, in particular, fibrous ionic polymers to the attention of researchers, high school students, college students, engineers and scientists, ERI has developed a low cost Contractile Polymeric Artificial Muscle Science Kit®.
• To bring technology of electroactive polymers, in particular, ionic polymer metal composites to the attention of similar groups as listed above, ERI has developed a low cost Artificial Muscle Science Kit®

• Developments for NASA include a family of novel synthetic muscle systems with robotic sensing and actuation capabilities, for primarily NASA space robotics and EVA applications, and any distributed nanosensing and nanoactuation government applications.
• Possible applications include NASA Space Robotics, Autonomous Extravehicular Actuation and Sensing Capabilities, Space Robotic Automation
• Example - dust wiping application in connection with solar cells and optical windows used in space robotics and landing missions.

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