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Scientists Discover Way to Send Information into Black Holes Without Using Energy

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Artificial Muscles No Longer Need Dangerous Voltages. Here’s the Breakthrough That Makes Untethered Robots Possible

Artificial muscles are no longer science fiction. They are already helping soft robots move, wearable devices assist human motion, and future machines interact safely with people. Among the most promising technologies in this field are dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs)—soft, rubber-like materials that move when electricity is applied.

DEAs can stretch, contract, bend, or twist, just like real muscles. They are lightweight, fast, and capable of producing large movements. However, one major problem has slowed their real-world use: they usually need very high voltages—often thousands of volts—to work. This makes them unsafe, bulky, and unsuitable for portable or wearable systems.

Now, researchers from Zhejiang University have made a major breakthrough. They have developed low-voltage, high-output dielectric elastomer actuators (LVHO-DEAs) that deliver powerful performance while operating at much safer voltages. This advance brings artificial muscles much closer to everyday applications.

What Are Dielectric Elastomer Actuators?

Dielectric elastomer actuators are soft materials made from elastic polymers placed between two flexible electrodes. When voltage is applied:

  • The electrodes attract each other

  • The elastomer becomes thinner

  • At the same time, it expands sideways

This simple mechanism allows DEAs to produce smooth, muscle-like motion.

Why DEAs are exciting:

  • Very large stretching ability

  • Fast response (milliseconds)

  • Lightweight and flexible

  • Quiet operation

  • High energy efficiency

Because of these properties, DEAs are often called “artificial muscles.”

The Big Challenge: High Voltage

Despite their advantages, traditional DEAs come with a serious limitation. To generate strong movement, they typically require kilovolt-level voltages. This causes several problems:

  • Safety risks for wearable devices

  • Bulky power supplies

  • Difficulty in making untethered (wireless) systems

  • Limited use in consumer products

For years, this voltage barrier prevented DEAs from moving out of laboratories and into real-world devices.

A Smart Solution: New Material + New Design

The Zhejiang University team tackled this challenge from two directions:

1. Developing a Better Elastomer Material

The researchers synthesized a new elastomer described as a high–dielectric constant, processable, high-performance dielectric elastomer. In simple terms, this material:

  • Stores electrical energy more efficiently

  • Produces strong movement at lower voltage

  • Has optimized stress–strain behavior

  • Is easy to process into thin films

A higher dielectric constant means the material responds more strongly to electric fields—allowing lower voltages to create the same or even greater motion.

2. Multilayer Thin-Film Architecture

Instead of using a single thick layer, the team stacked multiple ultra-thin elastomer films using a scalable dry-stacking process.

This multilayer approach offers major advantages:

  • Each layer operates at a lower voltage

  • Output force and displacement add up across layers

  • No need for prestretching (a complex and unstable step used in older designs)

  • Compatible with large-scale manufacturing

Together, material innovation and smart structural design made low-voltage operation possible.

Impressive Performance at Safe Voltages

The results achieved by the new LVHO-DEAs are remarkable:

  • Energy density: 38.4 joules per kilogram

  • Power density: 452 watts per kilogram

  • Operating electric field: 20 volts per micrometer

  • Driving voltage: Effective operation at just 200 volts

  • No prestretching or high-frequency resonance required

These values match or exceed the performance of many traditional DEAs—but at a fraction of the voltage.

This means the actuators are not only powerful but also safer, simpler, and more practical.

Untethered Devices Finally Become Possible

One of the most exciting parts of this research is the successful demonstration of untethered systems.

Using LVHO-DEAs, the researchers built:

  • Wearable devices that move naturally on the human body

  • Soft robots with different actuation mechanisms

  • Systems powered without heavy external equipment

All of these devices operated reliably at 200 volts, a level that can realistically be supplied by compact electronics and portable batteries.

This achievement directly addresses one of the biggest barriers in soft robotics and wearable technology.

Why This Breakthrough Matters

This research bridges the gap between theory and real-world application.

Key Benefits of LVHO-DEAs

  • ✅ Low driving voltage

  • ✅ High energy and power density

  • ✅ Lightweight and flexible

  • ✅ Scalable manufacturing process

  • ✅ Safe for wearable and portable use

For the first time, DEAs can realistically be used in consumer-friendly, untethered systems.

Future Applications You Can Expect

The impact of low-voltage artificial muscles could be huge across many industries:

Wearable Technology

  • Soft exoskeletons for mobility assistance

  • Rehabilitation devices for patients

  • Smart clothing with active motion support

Soft Robotics

  • Robots that safely interact with humans

  • Medical robots for delicate procedures

  • Search-and-rescue robots that move through tight spaces

Healthcare and Prosthetics

  • Lightweight prosthetic limbs with natural movement

  • Assistive devices for elderly care

Consumer Electronics

  • Haptic feedback systems

  • Adaptive grips and soft actuators

A Major Step Toward Muscle-Like Machines

For decades, dielectric elastomer actuators promised muscle-like performance—but high voltage kept them out of reach. This new generation of low-voltage, high-output DEAs changes that story.

By combining advanced materials with smart multilayer design, researchers have shown that powerful artificial muscles can be safe, portable, and practical.

This breakthrough brings us closer to a future where soft machines move as naturally as living organisms—and where wearable devices truly work with the human body, not against it.

Artificial muscles are no longer just promising. They are ready for the real world.

Reference: 

  • Junbo Peng et al.
Low-voltage and high-output dielectric elastomer actuators for untethered soft machines working at 200 volts.Sci. Robot.11,eady9635(2026).DOI:10.1126/scirobotics.ady9635

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