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Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1
Published on: July 11, 2017
Locust-Derived Biohybrid Muscle Actuators for Low-Power Explosive Jumping
Peng Liu1, Yao Li1,2,3,4, Songsong Ma5
1School of Robotics and Advanced Manufacture, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Researchers developed a novel biohybrid locust robot using discarded locust hindlegs for compact, high-energy actuators. This microrobot achieves explosive leaps, offering a sustainable, high-performance actuation solution for future biohybrid robots.
Area of Science:
- Robotics
- Bioengineering
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Jumping microrobots face challenges with bulky actuators.
- Biohybrid muscle actuators offer a promising alternative.
- Previous biohybrid actuators lacked explosive power.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop compact, high-energy biohybrid muscle actuators for microrobots.
- To repurpose biological components for robotic applications.
- To achieve dynamic leaping capabilities in microrobots.
Main Methods:
- Discarded locust hindlegs were repurposed as biohybrid muscle actuators.
- Locust hindlegs were integrated with an artificial robotic system.
- Electrical stimulation protocols were optimized for low-power input and rapid energy release.
Main Results:
- A 2 g biohybrid locust achieved leaps 18x body length and 7x body height.
- The actuator demonstrated ultralow-power input (0.03 mW).
- Rapid kinetic energy release enabled long-distance jumps, outperforming synthetic counterparts.
Conclusions:
- Repurposed locust hindlegs create sustainable, high-performance biohybrid muscle actuators.
- This strategy unlocks advanced actuation for microrobots.
- The biohybrid locust pioneers a roadmap for next-generation biohybrid robots.
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