Infrared image (IMAGE)
Caption
When robotic legs have to hold a certain position for a long time, a lot of current flows through the DC motor that drives them (left). Over time, energy is lost in the form of heat. In contrast, the artificial muscles (right), which work on the principle of electrostatics and are efficient, remain cold, because no current flows through them under a constant load.
Credit
Thomas Buchner / ETH Zurich and Toshihiko Fukushima / MPI-IS
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