Bristol Researchers Receive £300,000 to Develop Artificial Muscles for Enhanced Robotic Dexterity

Bristol Researchers Receive £300,000 to Develop Artificial Muscles for Enhanced Robotic Dexterity

(IN BRIEF) The University of Bristol has secured £300,000 in funding as part of a £1.5 million project focused on advancing artificial muscles for robots. This funding will contribute to developing dexterous robotic manipulation systems that could revolutionize industries facing labour shortages and improve the precision and flexibility of robots in performing human-like tasks.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRISTOL, 21-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Researchers at the University of Bristol have been awarded £300,000 in funding to advance the capabilities of artificial muscles, as part of a broader £1.5 million project aimed at improving robot dexterity. This funding will support the development of more flexible and responsive robot manipulation systems, addressing a significant gap between innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and robot hardware.

While AI advancements are rapidly enhancing the capabilities of robots, the physical hardware—particularly in terms of flexibility, speed, and precision—has struggled to keep up. The Advanced Research + Invention Agency (ARIA) programme seeks to change this, with a £52 million investment directed towards projects that focus on developing the hardware needed to enhance robot dexterity, including sensors, bio-inspired robotic hands with advanced tactile sensing, and novel magnetic skins.

Breaking Barriers in Robotic Manipulation
Currently, robots cannot replicate the dexterity of human hands, which poses a challenge for their use in tasks requiring precise manipulation, such as in manufacturing, warehouse logistics, elder care, space exploration, and food preparation—industries facing severe labour shortages. Achieving human-like dexterity in robots could revolutionize these sectors, allowing robots to handle tasks that are traditionally physically demanding or hazardous to human workers.

The University of Bristol’s contribution to the project will involve a collaboration between Dr. Efi Psomopoulou, Lecturer at the School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology, and Artimus Robotics, a US-based company specializing in robotics technology. Their work will focus on developing high-performance artificial muscles, known as HASEL actuators, and integrating them into robotic hands designed to perform precise and lifelike tasks. The project will also incorporate biologically-inspired design principles to create a manipulation framework that can be applied to a wide range of robotic hands.

Artificial Muscles for Flexible and Cost-Effective Manipulation
The HASEL actuators being developed by Artimus Robotics are set to provide robots with the ability to handle objects with the same dexterity and precision as humans, while also keeping costs low. Over the next three years, the Bristol team will focus on developing control systems for HASELs and studying how these robotic manipulators can sense and interact with their environment. The goal is to create a manipulator that can be used as a benchmark by other researchers in the ARIA programme and by roboticists both in the UK and internationally.

Dr. Psomopoulou commented on the significance of the project: “Achieving robot dexterity means enabling robots to interact physically with their environment or with humans. These interactions need to be quick, responsive, and safe. For many years, general-purpose robot dexterity has remained an unsolved problem, and this funding allows us to make significant strides toward finding a solution. I am excited to contribute to this transformative programme and work on the development of a dexterous manipulation framework applicable to all robot hand morphologies.”

A Step Toward Solving Global Labour Challenges
As the global population ages, with the number of people over 65 expected to triple by 2100, robots are expected to play a vital role in alleviating labour shortages, particularly in physically demanding jobs. By improving robot dexterity, this project could not only enhance workplace safety but also dramatically increase productivity, offering a solution to the growing demands of industries and the evolving workforce.

For more information on the ARIA Robot Dexterity programme, visit: Robot Dexterity.

Further information

About ARIA: ARIA is an R&D funding agency created to unlock technological breakthroughs that benefit everyone. Created by an Act of Parliament and sponsored by the Department for

Science, Innovation and Technology, we fund teams of scientists and engineers to pursue research at the edge of what is scientifically and technologically possible.

Media Contact:

Tel: +44 (0)117 928 9000
Email: press-office@bristol.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Bristol