Buoys flex artificial muscles for renewable energy

Artificial muscles are being used to turn the ocean’s waves into electrical power in a novel pilot project off the coast of Florida, US.

The “muscles” produce electricity as they bob up and down attached to buoys. Although they only generate enough power to light a small light bulb currently, the scientists involved see it as a first step to implementing a new, cheap technology for harvesting renewable energy from the ocean.

The artificial muscles are made from electroactive polymers, a material that can be physically activated with a jolt of electricity.

Electroactive polymer artificial muscles (EPAMs) are heralded as a key technology for powering future robots and other machinery. The design is remarkably simple