Integration of Soft Actuators Based on a Biomolecular Motor System to Develop Artificial Machines

Abstract

Fabrication of soft actuators that may perform multiple tasks simultaneously, as observed for the complex natural systems, is one of the goals in biomimetics. Biomolecular motor systems are the smallest natural machine that can perform mechanical work with a high efficiency. Because of their wide range of scalability and adaptability, the biomolecular motor systems are promising candidates for developing biomimetic soft actuators. The biological power units are able to convert chemical energy obtained from hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) into mechanical work. By virtue of their highly efficient mechanism of power generation, they are able to form highly ordered structures in living organism, which facilitates their emergent functions. To exploit the advantages of the biomolecular motor systems, nowadays they are used as building blocks of biomimetic soft actuators or devices. In this chapter we discuss the latest applications of a classical biomolecular motor system microtubule/kinesin in designing biomimetic soft actuators and micro devices. Nowadays the microtubule/kinesin system can be reconstructed and self-assembled or integrated to complex hierarchical structures which offer emergent functions. Utilization of biomolecular motor systems can greatly advance the development of highly efficient biomimetic soft actuators which in turn would benefit soft robotics in near future.