An approach regarding some performances of a FESTO pneumatic muscle actuator

Abstract This paper presents some performances of a pneumatic actuated artificial muscle, manufactured by FESTO. Pneumatic muscles are novel actuators, constructed by an elastic membrane covered with a braided mesh, based on a contraction principle: inflated, it shorts its length with a certain dimension depending on the compressed air pressure. Those muscles are known for their wide application in industry and robotics, as actuators. The aim of this study is to find operational behaviour of a pneumatic muscle. Some experiments was made, in order to prove the maximum contraction of the muscle, the evolution of the contraction at different pressures and loads. The results obtained are graphical plotted. Based on the obtained results, it was made an analysis and identified the best fit equation for the data. The experimental research carried out highlighted that the pneumatic muscles offers many advantages and disadvantages in terms of their behaviour in operation.