Researchers have developed the first robotic leg with “artificial muscles” — oil-filled bags that mimic human movement, allowing the robot to jump across various surfaces like grass, sand, and rocks. The design, detailed in Nature Communications, uses electrohydraulic actuators that contract and expand like animal muscles. Unlike traditional rigid robots, these soft actuators enable more agile movement while using less electricity.
The robotic leg, which can jump 13 centimeters (40% of its height), outperforms previous designs on rough terrain. Though still limited, the technology could lead to affordable humanoid robots that handle household tasks in the future, according to study co-author Robert Katzschmann.
Featured image: While conventional robotic legs are driven by an electromagnetic rotary motor (left), for their musculoskeletal system the researchers use electrohydraulic actuators — i.e. artificial muscles (right). Credit: Thomas Buchner / ETH Zurich and Toshihiko Fukushima / MPI-IS
