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This section provides an overview for pneumatic artificial muscles as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 3 pneumatic artificial muscle manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked pneumatic artificial muscle companies as of January, 2025: 1.Koganei Corporation, 2.Festo, 3.Festo Corporation..
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Soft actuators, also known as pneumatic artificial muscles, generate force by deforming a flexible material with external energy. These artificial muscles are poised to extend their applications beyond industrial robotics, where traditional actuators have predominantly been used.
Pneumatic artificial muscles vary based on the type of energy input. Some, like polymer actuators, deform by applying electrical, magnetic, or chemical energy, while others, specifically pneumatic artificial muscles, deform by fluid pressure such as air or hydraulic pressure. This discussion focuses on pneumatic artificial muscles that contract when air pressure is applied.
Pneumatic artificial muscles are tubular devices that contract upon the application of air pressure. Utilizing compressible air, they exhibit moderate springiness and are characterized by high output relative to their weight.
A typical example is the McKibben pneumatic artificial muscle, which has been extensively studied and is gaining renewed interest with the development of wearable devices and soft robots. These muscles consist of a rubber tube with a braid around its circumference. Radial expansion of the tube alters the angle of the mesh, creating axial contraction force.
In McKibben-type muscles, the pressure typically ranges from 100 to 700 kPa(G), with the contraction amount and maximum force increasing with applied pressure. The contraction can be up to 20% of the initial length, with the force controlled by the muscle's diameter and applied pressure.
Lightweight and capable of generating high output, pneumatic artificial muscles are expected to find use in wearable devices and soft robots. Their application as assistive force in suits is increasing. However, these muscles tend to lose flexibility at higher pressures, posing a challenge in achieving both high output and flexibility, especially in wearable devices where muscle movement needs to synchronize with human body movements.
Recently, the advent of thin pneumatic artificial muscles has made it possible to obtain significant contractile force without sacrificing flexibility by using them in parallel. Additionally, dedicated controllers for automatic control of pneumatic artificial muscles are now available, accelerating efforts towards their full-scale social implementation.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Festo Corp., originally established in 1925 in Germany, has offices worldwide and is a manufacturer and direct supplier of automation solutions for OEMs. The company produces and sells pneumatic and electrical control systems, drive technology for factories, and process automation. Examples include fittings, actuators, sensors, vacuum technology, pneumatic power modules, electrical control technology, integrated systems, and accessories. They have also expanded into robot control systems. Their custom services include the design, engineering, and production of partial and complete automation control process lines for OEM clients.
Festo Corporation, established in 1925 and headquartered in Esslingen, Germany, is a supplier of automation technology and technical education and is ISO 9001, ISO 13485, and ISO14001 certified. It has around 33,000 catalog products, customized components, and ready-to-install solutions, including grippers, motors, and sensors used in industrial and process automation. The company won the German Future Award in 2010 and serves 300,000 customers worldwide, while its education division provides training solutions for 56,000 industrial companies and educational institutions. It registered €3.81 billion in the 2022 financial year and is available in around 60 countries, with 2,600 patents worldwide.
Ranking as of January 2025
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Koganei Corporation |
54.1%
|
| 2 | Festo |
36.1%
|
| 3 | Festo Corporation. |
9.8%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the pneumatic artificial muscle page as of January 2025. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
1 | 100.0% |
22 products found
22 products
Koganei Corporation
550+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
It is an air pressure artificial muscle that expands and contracts by putting and removing compressed air. The pulling force (traction) is differen...
10 models listed
Strobe Co., Ltd.
60+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
Artificial muscle (electrostatic actuator) 1. Actuator principle and structure ■Basic model ~Parallel plate capacitor~ The basic structure of a st...
Koganei Corporation
400+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 hour ago
It is an air pressure artificial muscle that expands and contracts by putting and removing compressed air. The pulling force (traction) is differen...
10 models listed
Mikawa Rubber Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
100+ people viewing
Last viewed: 7 hours ago
High durability is achieved by embedding fibers into the rubber itself. The output density is more than four times that of conventional McKibben-ty...
