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The artificial muscle is a type of actuator composed of a single-component device that can generate external work by producing deformations (such as reversible expansion, rotation, and tensile actuation) under various external stimuli, including heat, humidity, electric current, pressure, light, etc.Dec 18, 2020

Tiny artificial muscles composed of twisted carbon nanotubes filled with paraffin are 200 times stronger than human muscle.

The disadvantages of using ionic EAP materials are the need to maintain wetness and the difficulties in sustaining constant displacement under activation of a DC voltage. The other major shortcoming is that if the voltage is above a certain level, electrolysis occurs, which causes irreversible damgage to the material.

Typically, pressure-based artificial muscles can produce forces ranging from 0.01 to 100 MPa, while a typical stroke is 10–100%. The effective modulus of hydraulic artificial muscles is generally higher than that of pneumatic artificial muscles, which means that hydraulic muscles tend to generate higher force.Nov 23, 2021

Overall, I would say that from a net power/weight standpoint some motors can equal the performance of human muscles. From an power/energy input standpoint, human muscles are more efficient but also more affected by number of repetitions and duty cycle.Apr 22, 2008

Soft robotics for hand rehabilitation

The McKibben pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) was developed in the 1950s by physician Joseph L. McKibben for actuating orthotics [20,21].

Artificial muscles could be employed in a host of applications, including miniaturized medical devices, robotics and smart textiles that respond to changes in their environment. Most such muscles created to date, however, are heavy and cumbersome while being relatively slow to actuate.Jul 15, 2019

Robotic artificial muscles are a subset of artificial muscles that are capable of producing biologically inspired motions useful for robot systems, i.e., large power-to-weight ratios, inherent compliance, and large range of motions.May 29, 2019

Synthol is a substance used by body builders as a temporary implant which is injected deeply into the muscle. The enlargement effects are immediate. Synthol is used in small groups of muscles to enlarge their volume (for example triceps, biceps, deltoids, muscles of the calf).