MIT researchers working on super-fast robotic muscles

Someday, when we're toiling away in the silicon mines at the behest of our robot overlords (or brewing beer and rolling stogies, if the bots are fueled like Bender), we'll look back on posts like this and wonder why we made such a big deal about all these advances in robotics. Anyway, now that robots are already smarter, stronger, and more attractive than us, it stands to reason that they will soon be super-quick as well. An MIT research group under the guidance of Professor Sidney Yip has taken a first step towards building bots that move with the Matrix-quickness with their development of robotic muscles that work 1000 times faster than the human equivalent. While current gen bots can only muster muscle speeds 1/100 as fast as humans', Yip's group has designed artificial "muscles" made from conjugated polymers (meaning that they're conductive, not insulating) that react very quickly when exposed to solitons (charge density waves). So now that robots have mastered pool, soccer, and foosball, it looks like swimming, cycling, and track will be the next sports conquered in the bots' ultimate quest for world (and Olympic) domination.

[wtfunkymonkey @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

...more attractive *than* us.

[David @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

yes im gonna sound like a big geek but could you guys atleast post a pic of the toy transformed properly

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

So, when do they start making bionic limbs that make Steve Austin look like a carnival monkey at a gorilla convention?

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I have that one.

[Scott @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Apparently people at MIT like The Matrix a lot.

[Lee Gibson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Poor Smokescreen.

Look, do yourself a favor...read the instructions. The Transformers Alternators line is pretty complicated, and that one just looks wrong...

[Idlecogz @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This is like flexible lcd's, it a concept thats always 3 years from mass production. Im gonna outgeek you all and say that I have been following this technology since my Mechwarrior RPG days in high school 8) and they still havent gotten it right.

[Finished.Law.School @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

This will be great for sales of camel jockeys...I think...

[wxrman @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Mechwarrior will be a long way off... for a long while.

Once they get fast muscles, they will require greater power requirements, and of course that will increase weight and of course battle each other will require stronger sheilding... thus requiring stronger muscles, more power and lighter materials.

Let's just build a car with a bumper that doesn't WRINKLE when you tap a curb.

[Paul @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

Great Article but where is the link to the
researchers website and what are the
muscle's Specs?

Much too Vague guys/girls

[DraXX @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

I also agree that this article was much too vague. I was searching the internet for these polymers a while back, a link to a detailed description would be great.

[Bible and Apologetics Teacher @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

People's muscles do a lot more than just move. They also contain stored reserves of carbohydrates and a neural interface with the brain and spinal cord. They're capable of delivering under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. They're also capable of a lot more strength than we normally see; the strength is limited by the physics of levers (they connect close to the bone) and also by safety mecahnisms set to keep the body from damaging itself, safety mechanisms that can be overcome by adrenalin.

[joetlnf @ Dec 19th 2005 2:38AM]

silicon mines...you mean, the beach? ;)