In the US, we developed a synthetic muscle that runs on water

The new composite material is able to change shape under the influence of moisture. At the same time he develops considerable effort: a piece of thin film weighing 25 mg is able to raise a glass plate, which weighs 380 times more, or to transport cargo to 10 times heavier than their own weight.

The processes taking place in such a "muscle" look like warping wood with changes in humidity, but proceed more quickly and efficiently. Film twenty micrometers in thickness composed of the two polymers. One of them serves as an elastic frame, and the second is able to change the volume, absorbing and evaporating water. If you put a sheet of such material on a wet surface, it begins to squirm and twist continuously since its separate parts that come into contact with the surface, absorbing moisture, the rise in the air, evaporating it.

This material can be used as not requiring electricity "muscle" for the robot, if environmental conditions make it possible to create a moisture gradient. Mechanical energy of the material can be used to generate electricity, for example, adding part of the piezoelectric composite. That may be enough electricity to supply the electronics with low consumption. The membranes of such material can be used to create a "smart" sports and work clothing, equipped with sensors and microcomputers.

In the longer run it may be a question of the application of this polymer to generate electricity for the common household devices, or even the creation of power plants based on it.

via factroom.ru