Design and development of innovative textile pneumatic muscles

摘要

In recent years, the use of pneumatics in innovative actuation systems has led to the development, testing and first applications of nonconventional actuators such as pneumatic muscles. Like human muscles, pneumatic muscles can exert only traction forces, and offer a good power-to-weight ratio. The paper will present an investigation of new pneumatic muscles with a fabric structure. Lightweight, robust and efficient, these muscles can be used in a wide range of fields, from biomedical to industrial applications.