High School Girl Strong-arms 3 Robots

Posted 8 Mar 2005 at 17:06 UTC by steve

In light of International Women's Day, I can't think of a more appropriate story than this. Scott Zinn and other readers sent links about the long anticipated Arm Wrestling match between man and machine. The machines in this case are using the latest electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators, also known as artificial muscles. EAP technology is more powerful than electric motors but much lighter than hydraulics and pneumatics. Dr. Bar-Cohen of NASA first proposed such a competition in 1999 and it finally happened March 7th in San Diego. Three organizations entered robot arms to compete against a human opponent, high school student and robotics hobbyist Panna Felsen. She beat all three robots. The robot build by ERI of New Mexico did best, holding out against the human for 24 seconds (ERI also sells EAP units for experimenters). Two champion arm wrestlers officiated to ensure both human and machine followed standard rules. The eventual goal is to have an EAP arm that can beat the strongest human. For more see our previous stories on Dr. Bar-Cohen and EAP actuators

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Good job the arms were weak!, posted 9 Mar 2005 at 13:41 UTC by c6jones720 » (Master)

Its a good job those arms were deliberately weak! - Some of the manipulator arms I've played with could easily knock somebodies head off!