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From nano to macro: a groundbreakIng actuation technology for robotic systems

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MAGNIFY (From nano to macro: a groundbreakIng actuation technology for robotic systems)

Période du rapport: 2019-10-01 au 2021-03-31

MAGNIFY aims to develop a new generation of artificial muscles for robotic systems. The artificial muscle will be realized by using artificial molecular machines, organized in polymer nanofibers and individually controlled by external stimuli. By learning from Nature, MAGNIFY relies on a bottom-up methodology, in which the nano-scale movement of molecular machines will be incrementally amplified to the macro-scale in the artificial muscle. The MAGNIFY artificial muscles will be characterized by: high force-to-weight ratio, high flexibility, fast reactivity, intrinsic variable stiffness.

The MAGNIFY Consortium strongly believes that by looking at the principles that enable the high efficiency and performance of motion in human skeletal muscles, and by applying these principles to the design of new robotic actuators, unprecedented impact on science, technology, and society will be initiated. MAGNIFY paves the way to the next generation of robots that can genuinely co-operate with humans, helping them in ways similar to those of skilled operators. The acceptance of robots in the society has a great potential to increase, and to turn robots into real companions in everyday life. Thanks to MAGNIFY, lay-people will get closer to technology and science, will trust robotic systems and, as a consequence, accept them.
In the first period, the Consortium jointed effort in:
- Realize and characterize the doubly interlocked rotaxane species that constitutes the monomer core of the molecular machine.
- Define the procedure for the polymerization of the molecular machine monomer.
- Select the polymers to fabricate the nanofibers.
- Perform tests on the first generation of bundles of nanofibers.
Progress beyond the state of the art is related to the [c2]daisy chain rotaxanes as molecular muscles and their supramolecular architectures.

No socio-economic-societal impact has been achieved so far.
The MAGNIFY artificial muscle.