Development of cultured muscles with tendon structures for modular bio-actuators

Abstract

In this article, we propose a new actuator named the modular bio-actuator (MBA). The MBA has two tendon structures made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) at both ends of the bioactuator. The MBA can be easily handled and fixed on an artificial micro-robot body to increase its design flexibility and output power. The tendon structures were connected to a bio-actuator in the form of a chain structure, and the connection between the tendon structures and the bio-actuator was maintained for more than three weeks. The contraction length of the MBA was linearly increased when the DC voltage applied to the MBA was increased. The MBA contracted over 200 µm when a DC voltage of 10 V and 1 Hz was applied to the bio-actuator. The output power of the MBA was measured using a PDMS cantilever, and the total output power of the MBA increased linearly when multiple MBAs were stacked on a PDMS cantilever. This study was aimed at improving the design flexibility and controllability of micro-robots and bionic systems.