Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40820547›Full record

ArticleAdvanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)2026

Bio-Inspired Artificial Muscle-Tendon Complex of Liquid Crystal Elastomer for Bidirectional Afferent-Efferent Signaling.

Jiyeon Cho, Minhee Lee, Taejun Park, Yang Wang, Howon Lee, Shengqiang Cai, Yong-Lae Park

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Jiyeon ChoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Minhee LeeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Taejun ParkDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Yang WangMaterials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Howon LeeDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0001-5778-2398
Shengqiang CaiMaterials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
Yong-Lae ParkDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Advanced Machines and Design, Institute of Engineering Research, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-2491-2114

Funding

Korean Government (MSIT)National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2021-NR059648National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2024-00416938
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The muscle-tendon complex (MTC) in biological systems integrates contractile actuation and proprioceptive sensing, enabling coordinated feedback control of muscle activations through simultaneous afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) signaling. To achieve similar functionality, artificial muscles, often based on polymeric materials with intricate material behaviors, require embedded proprioceptive capabilities to enable adaptive and reliable feedback control. Here, an artificial MTC-inspired liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) muscle with embedded physical intelligence is presented that supports simultaneous sensing and actuation. The proposed system utilizes embedded liquid metal (LM) channels for Joule heating and sensing of mechanical states, such as force and length, within the LCE structure. The multimaterial design combines isotropic LCE and nematic LCE, each with distinct thermomechanical properties optimized for specific functions, allowing for responsive contractile actuation and efficient proprioception. Integrated within a single, compact structure, this artificial muscle combines all sensing and actuation components, enhancing compliance and proprioceptive functionality. Furthermore, the LCE actuators are arranged in an antagonistic pair, mirroring the setup of biological muscles, to improve controllability and coordination. These MTC-inspired LCE artificial muscles demonstrate closed-loop feedback control in robotic applications, such as a robotic finger and gripper system, highlighting the potential of embedded physical intelligence in advanced robotic control systems.

Indexed as

Biomimetic MaterialsElastomersLiquid CrystalsMusclesTendonsElastomersartificial muscleclosed‐loop controlliquid crystal elastomer

Identifiers

PMID40820547
PMCPMC12783937

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.