{"686009":{"#nid":"686009","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech\u2019s Soft Robotics Flips the Script on \u2018The Terminator\u2019","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPop culture has often depicted robots as cold, metallic, and menacing, built for domination, not compassion. But at Georgia Tech, the future of robotics is softer, smarter, and designed to help.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen people think of robots, they usually imagine something like\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EThe Terminator\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;or\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003ERoboCop\u003C\/em\u003E: big, rigid, and made of metal,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/w-hong-yeo\u0022\u003EHong Yeo\u003C\/a\u003E, the G.P. \u201cBud\u201d Peterson and Valerie H. Peterson Professor in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.me.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EGeorge W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. \u201cBut what we\u2019re developing is the opposite. These artificial muscles are soft, flexible, and responsive \u2014 more like human tissue than machine.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EYeo\u2019s latest study, published in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.rsc.org\/en\/content\/articlelanding\/2025\/mh\/d5mh00236b\u0022 title=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.rsc.org\/en\/content\/articlelanding\/2025\/mh\/d5mh00236b\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMaterials Horizons\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, explores AI-powered muscles made from lifelike materials paired with intelligent control systems. The technology learns from the body and adapts in real time, creating motion that feels natural, responsive, and safe enough to support recovery.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMuscles That Think, Materials That Feel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETraditional robotics relies on steel, wires, and motors, but rarely captures the nuances of human motion. Yeo\u2019s research takes a different approach. He uses\u0026nbsp;hierarchically structured fibers, which are flexible materials built in layers, much like muscle and tendon. They can sense, adapt, and even \u201cremember\u201d how they\u2019ve moved before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYeo trains machine learning algorithms to adjust those pliable materials in real time with the right amount of force or flexibility for each task.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThese muscles don\u2019t only respond to commands,\u201d Yeo said. \u201cThey learn from experience. They can adapt and self-correct, which makes motion smoother and more natural.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe result of that research is deeply human. For someone recovering from a stroke or limb loss, each deliberate movement rebuilds not just strength \u2014 it rebuilds confidence, independence, and a sense of self.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Glove That Gives Freedom Back\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the first real-world applications is a\u0026nbsp;prosthetic glove powered by artificial muscles\u003Cstrong\u003E (\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acsnano.4c15530\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Epublished in \u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EACS Nano\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E, 2025\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E)\u003C\/strong\u003E, a device that behaves more like a helping hand than a mechanical tool. Traditional prosthetics rely on rigid motors and preset motions, but Yeo\u2019s design mirrors the natural give-and-take of real muscle.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInside the glove, thin layers of stretchable fibers and sensors contract, twist, and flex in sync with the wearer\u2019s intent. The glove can fine-tune grip strength, reduce tremors, and respond instantly to the user\u2019s movements, bringing dexterity back to everyday life.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat kind of precision matters most in the smallest tasks: fastening a button, lifting a glass, holding a child\u2019s hand.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cThese aren\u2019t just movements,\u201d Yeo said. \u201cThey\u2019re freedoms.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Yeo, the idea of restoring freedom through movement has driven his research from the very beginning.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Mission Rooted in Loss\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/05\/14\/family-loss-brings-about-medical-breakthrough\u0022\u003EYeo\u0027s work is deeply personal.\u003C\/a\u003E His path to biomedical engineering began with loss \u2014 the sudden death of his father while Yeo was still in college. That moment reshaped his sense of purpose, redirecting his focus from machines that move to technologies that heal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cInitially, I was thinking about designing cars,\u201d he said. \u201cBut after my father\u2019s death, I kind of woke up. Maybe I could do something that helps save someone\u2019s life.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat purpose continues to guide\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.yeolabgatech.com\/\u0022\u003Ehis lab\u2019s work today\u003C\/a\u003E, building technologies that help people recover what they\u2019ve lost.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAchieving that vision, however, means tackling some of engineering\u2019s toughest challenges.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESoft Machines, Hard Problems\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECreating lifelike muscles isn\u2019t easy. They need to be soft but strong, responsive but safe. And they must avoid triggering the body\u2019s immune system. That means building materials that can survive inside the body \u2014 and learn to belong there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe always think about not only function, but adaptability,\u201d Yeo said. \u201cIf it\u2019s going to be part of someone\u2019s body, it has to work with them, not against them.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis team calibrates these synthetic fibers like precision instruments \u2014 tested, adjusted, and re-tuned until they operate in sync with the body\u2019s natural movements. Over time, they develop a kind of \u201cmuscle memory,\u201d adapting fluidly to changing conditions. That dynamic adaptability, Yeo explained, is what separates a machine from a prosthetic that truly feels alive.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFrom Collaboration to Innovation\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESolving problems this complex requires more than one discipline. It takes an entire ecosystem of collaboration. Yeo\u2019s lab brings together experts in mechanical engineering, materials science, medicine, and computer science to design smarter, safer devices.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cYou can\u2019t solve this kind of problem in isolation,\u201d he said. \u201cWe need all of it \u2014 polymers, artificial intelligence, biomechanics \u2014 working together.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat collaborative model is supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nih.gov\/\u0022\u003ENational Institutes of Health\u003C\/a\u003E, and Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/matter-systems.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EInstitute for Matter and Systems.\u003C\/a\u003E In 2023, Yeo received a\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2024\/08\/30\/3-million-nsf-grant-will-support-training-sustainable-medical-devices\u0022\u003E$3 million NSF grant\u003C\/a\u003E to train the next generation of engineers building smart medical technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis team now works closely with healthcare providers and industry partners to bring these devices out of the lab and into patients\u2019 lives.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Future You Can Feel\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe future of robotics, according to Yeo, won\u2019t be defined by power or complexity but by feel.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cIf it feels foreign, people won\u2019t use it,\u201d he said. \u201cBut if it feels like part of you, that\u2019s when it can truly change lives.\u201d\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EIt\u2019s the opposite of \u003Cem\u003EThe Terminator\u003C\/em\u003E, where machines replace us. Yeo is designing these machines to help us reclaim ourselves.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are redefining what robotics can feel like \u2014 developing AI-powered artificial muscles made from life-like materials that move and adapt like human tissue.\u003Cbr\u003ELed by mechanical engineering professor \u003Cstrong\u003EHong Yeo\u003C\/strong\u003E, the team\u2019s work flips the Hollywood image of cold, metal machines into one of soft, intelligent systems built for healing and human connection.\u003Cbr\u003ETheir latest study in \u003Cem\u003EMaterials Horizons\u003C\/em\u003E could transform prosthetics and rehabilitation, helping people regain motion, strength, and confidence.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"AI-powered artificial muscles made from pliable materials are reshaping recovery, from stroke rehabilitation to prosthetic design. These machines help people regain motion, strength, and confidence."}],"uid":"36410","created_gmt":"2025-10-27 14:24:17","changed_gmt":"2025-11-06 17:00:25","author":"mazriel3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678452":{"id":"678452","type":"image","title":"Artificial Muscle Sensors","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA mock-up of an AI-powered glove with muscles made from lifelike materials paired with intelligent control systems. The technology learns from the body and adapts in real time, creating motion that feels natural, responsive, and safe enough to support recovery.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1761575490","gmt_created":"2025-10-27 14:31:30","changed":"1761576142","gmt_changed":"2025-10-27 14:42:22","alt":"A mock-up of an AI-powered glove","file":{"fid":"262476","name":"artificial-muscle-sensors.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/27\/artificial-muscle-sensors.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/27\/artificial-muscle-sensors.png","mime":"image\/png","size":767022,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/27\/artificial-muscle-sensors.png?itok=Txaxw9b0"}}},"media_ids":["678452"],"groups":[{"id":"660369","name":"Matter and Systems"},{"id":"66220","name":"Neuro"},{"id":"1292","name":"Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience (IBB)"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"190245","name":"Robotics and Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"182705","name":"artificial limbs"},{"id":"12939","name":"Controlling Prosthetic Limbs"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"172970","name":"go-neuro"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193652","name":"Matter and Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71881","name":"Science and Technology"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EMichelle Azriel Writer\/Editor, Research Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["mazriel3@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}