PNEUMATIC ARTIFICIAL MUSCLES

Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAM) are a type of actuator that mimics the properties of biological muscles. It consists of an inflatable tube or bladder which contracts and expands when depressurized or pressurized.

There are two types of pneumatic artificial muscles and they are; mckibben and the pleated pneumatic muscles.

Mckibben muscles are the most common types of pneumatic artificial muscles. They consist of an inflatable tube surrounded by a braided mesh which contracts and expands when depressurized and pressurized respectively.

Pleated pneumatic artificial muscles use a pleated membrane to increase the contraction ratio and force.

The advantages of pneumatic artificial muscles are as follows; pneumatic artificial muscles can generate significant forces relative to their weight making them suitable for applications where weight is a constraint. Pneumatic artificial muscles can be designed to mimic the flexibility and compliance of biological muscles allowing for smooth and natural motion. Pneumatic artificial muscles can be relatively inexpensive compared to other types of artificial muscles. Pneumatic artificial muscles have a relatively simple design making them easy to manufacture and maintain.

The disadvantages of pneumatic artificial muscles are as follows; the compressibility of air leads to delays and inaccuracies in motion control. Pneumatic artificial muscles can be energy inefficient due to the compressibility of air and the energy required to compress and store air. Pneumatic artificial muscles can be challenging to control precisely due to the non-linear behavior of the muscles and the compressibility of air.

Pneumatic artificial muscles find widespread application in the following; pneumatic artificial muscles are used in robotic arms, hands and grippers to provide flexibility and compliance. Pneumatic artificial muscles are used in prosthetic limbs to provide natural motion and control. Pneumatic artificial muscles are used in rehabilitation devices to provide gentle and controlled motion. Pneumatic artificial muscles are used in industrial automation to provide flexible and compliant motion.

The future of pneumatic artificial muscles is based on the advances and development of the following technologies; advances in new materials and design would improve their performance and efficiency. Pneumatic artificial muscles will be increasingly used for more application in robotics, prosthetics and rehabilitation devices. Advances in control systems and algorithms could improve the precision and accuracy of pneumatic artificial muscles.

 

SOURCES:

• Use of pneumatic artificial muscles in a passive upper body exoskeleton by Mattia Vincenzo Lo Piccolo, Giovanni Gerardo Muscolo and Carlo Ferrarresi.
• Modeling and analysis of a novel pneumatic artificial muscle and pneumatic arms exoskeleton by Hee Doo Yang.
• Mechanical design, dynamic modeling and control of hydraulic artificial muscles by Armah Nikkhah.
• Soft robotics: A multidisciplinary approach edited by Haider Nayafi-Ashtiani and Amir Ali Amiri-Margavi.
• Robotics and Automation handbook edited by Thomas R. Kurfess.