Twisting Tube Artificial Muscle (TTAM) and Its Application in Agonist and Antagonist Drive
Jiutian Xia, Jialong Cao, Tao Ren, Yonghua Chen, Ye Chen, Yunquan Li · MDPI AG · 2026
The Twisting Tube Artificial Muscle (TTAM) offers a novel approach to pneumatic artificial muscles, enhancing mobility and performance in robotic applications.
Plain English summary
Why this matters
Key findings
- TTAM design allows for increased internal pressure through twisting.
- Achieved a contraction force of up to 200 N.
- Prototype tested at 100 kPa initial air pressure.
- Novel antagonistic robotic joint actuated by two TTAMs developed.
- Modeling and experimental characterization conducted.
What's new
The TTAM presents a new mechanism for pneumatic artificial muscles that enhances performance while reducing system bulk.
Limitations
The abstract does not provide details on the long-term durability or practical applications of TTAM beyond the prototype stage.
Commercial context
While the TTAM shows promise, further development and testing are needed before commercial applications can be realized.
Publication
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Publication date
- January 5, 2026
- Research type
- Paper
- License
- https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Tags
More on Soft Robotics Materials
See all →Hand Rehabilitation Dynamic Splint with Variable Force via Pneumatic Artificial Muscle Actuators
A dynamic hand splint using pneumatic actuators shows promise for improving rehabilitation through controllable force during exercises.
Programmable Telescopic Soft Pneumatic Actuators for Deployable and Shape Morphing Soft Robots
Programmable Telescopic Soft Pneumatic Actuators (PTSPAs) use a parameterized geometry generator and systematic parameter exploration to enable deployable, shape-morphing soft robot locomotion in confined spaces.
Force Characterization of Insect-Scale Aquatic Propulsion Based on Fluid-Structure Interaction
Insect-scale microrobotic swimmers with SMA-driven soft tails are force-characterized, yielding first instantaneous thrust measurements linked to fluid-structure interaction.
Theoretical Modeling of a Bionic Arm with Elastomer Fiber as Artificial Muscle Controlled by Periodic Illumination
This study presents a theoretical model for a bionic arm using liquid crystal elastomer fibers as artificial muscles, controlled by light.
A Soft Robotic Module with Pneumatic Actuation and Enhanced Controllability Using a Shape Memory Alloy Wire
Embedding an SMA wire into a pneumatic soft robotic bending module enables more precise, faster closed-loop control of bending angle with lower working pressure.
Design and Fabrication of String-driven Origami Robots
A software-plus-dual-material 3D printing workflow designs and fabricates string-driven origami structures, enabling TSA-actuated crawling robots and robotic arms.
Recently published
Latest research →Bio-inspired re-entrant honeycomb metamaterial with programmable dual-plateau mechanical response
A bio-inspired re-entrant honeycomb mechanical metamaterial is described as having a programmable dual-plateau mechanical response.
Modelling the thermo-mechanical responses and shape recovery performance of particle-reinforced shape memory polymer composites in cold and hot programming
A study focused on modeling thermo-mechanical behavior and shape recovery of particle-reinforced shape-memory polymer composites when programmed in cold versus hot conditions.
An electrically isolated Josephson junction array as a tunable metamaterial
This study explores a tunable electromagnetic metamaterial based on an electrically isolated Josephson junction array, demonstrating its nonlinear response.
Functional Shape Recovery Response of Heat-Treated NiTiCu SHAPE Memory Alloy Wire
Heat treatment of NiTiCu shape memory alloy wires enhances their shape recovery response, achieving a high recovery ratio.