New research asks whether printed structures can act like muscles
A De Montfort University fellowship explores smart materials and geometry for softer robotic movement.
What happened
De Montfort University announced on October 20 that Meisam Abdi had received a Royal Academy of Engineering/Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship to investigate artificial muscles made with 3D printing.
The work is inspired by the functions of living muscle. Rather than copying its anatomy exactly, it will explore architected structures whose geometry and smart materials could help robots move, sense and respond.
The award allows up to a year of focused research. This is a planned investigation, not a finished actuator, clinical device or demonstration of performance in a deployed robot.
Read the sources
Primary-source reporting; this is not a hands-on review. Sources checked Oct 24, 2026.