MANY MINDEDSwiss lab creates ultra-thin motors for flexible robotics
Swiss university researchers at EPFL created FiberMotors—thin, flexible electric motors with a diameter of 1 to 3 millimeters. Each motor uses two concentric polymer fibers, where an inner fiber slides within an outer one when electricity flows, generating motion without rigid parts. Lab tests show a single motor supports 75 grams of weight, while four bundled motors lift 46 grams. The motors are back-driveable, meaning they don’t lock under external force, a feature critical for delicate applications. Published in *Advanced Materials*, this technology is being refined by EPFL’s spinoff Elecsyor for real-world durability and performance.
The design’s flexibility and lightweight nature directly support medical robotics and prosthetics by eliminating bulky, rigid components. This could lower costs for assistive devices and haptic feedback systems while improving safety in industrial settings. For health needs, it means potential reductions in the price and complexity of adaptive medical tools that currently rely on stiff mechanisms.
The next step is scaling durability beyond lab conditions. While the motors work reliably in controlled environments, real-world wear and tear remain unproven. If Elecsyor achieves robust performance in field trials, this could accelerate access to affordable, adaptable medical robotics—especially for low-resource settings where rigid systems are too expensive or impractical. Until then, the technology remains a promising but untested step toward flexible, low-cost mobility solutions.
Source: New Atlas