A new artificial muscle can change shape, repair damage, and be reused
A breakthrough in soft robotics has emerged from Seoul National University, where researchers have developed an artificial muscle that adapts during operation, self-heals after damage, and can be repurposed for new tasks. This innovation addresses a longstanding limitation in flexible robotics: the inability to modify function after fabrication.
The device is a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA), a type of soft actuator that converts electrical energy into motion and mimics biological muscle. Conventional DEAs rely on fixed electrode patterns set during manufacturing, which restricts them to a single, preprogrammed motion. To perform different tasks, engineers must redesign and rebuild the hardware.
The Seoul National University team overcame this constraint by introducing a phase-transitional ferrofluid as the electrode material. At room temperature, this material behaves like a soft solid. When heated or exposed to a magnetic field, it becomes fluid-like, allowing the internal electrode structure to be reshaped in three dimensions while the device is operating. This enables the actuator to split, merge, and reconfigure its internal components dynamically.
a single actuator can switch functions in real time, performing motions such as bending, expansion, or circuit bridging without hardware modification. The material can as well be divided into sections, allowing one soft robotic component to carry out multiple functions. This reduces the need for redundant parts and simplifies manufacturing in soft robotics, where many devices are currently built for narrow, single-use applications.
Critically, the artificial muscle demonstrates self-healing capabilities. After sustaining damage, it can recover up to 91% of its original shape and functionality. The phase-transitional ferrofluid facilitates this repair by flowing to seal disruptions when activated by heat or magnetic fields. Once healed, the muscle can be reused, extending its operational lifespan and reducing waste.
The research team, led by Prof. Jeong-Yun Sun of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Prof. Ho-Young Kim of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, published their findings in Science Advances. Co-first authors Yun Hyeok Lee, Seungwon Moon, and Min-gyu Lee contributed to the study, which includes detailed schematics of the reprogrammable DEA (rDEA) and characterization of the phase-transitional ferrofluid used as the electrode.
This advancement paves the way for adaptive robots capable of reconfiguring themselves in response to changing tasks or environments. Instead of discarding or replacing components when needs shift, future systems may reuse and reshape existing hardware—moving soft robotics closer to versatile, sustainable machines.
By enabling real-time adaptation, self-repair, and reuse, this artificial muscle technology could influence applications in wearable devices, haptic feedback systems, and soft robotic grippers tasked with handling delicate or unpredictable objects. It represents a significant step toward robots that are not only flexible in motion but also adaptable in design and function.
Note: This summary is based on verified information from peer-reviewed research and reputable science reporting. No speculative or unverified claims have been included.