Compostable 'Artificial Muscles' Designed by Grad Student.

A team of engineers, including a graduate student from CU Boulder, has designed a new kind of robotic actuator, or "artificial muscle," made entirely of sustainable ingredients that can dissolve naturally in soil over a few months. The muscles are versatile and can power robotic arms and legs with life-like movements. The team tested various biodegradable candidates for replacing the plastic pouches in their actuators and found a biodegradable polyester blend, commonly used in shopping bags, to be a good option. The new materials system now opens up interesting avenues for applications that require components designed for single- or short-term use, such as in the area of food handling or medical applications.