JapanToday.com - A group of Kyoto-based researchers, today unveiled an artificial muscle, that is capable of holding objects like real fingers do. The human-like material was developed by Nobutaka Tsujiuchi, a professor of mechanical dynamics at Doshisha University, and the Kyoto-based software development company Squse.

The part of the artificial muscle enclosing a controlling device is made of a natural rubber measuring 0.5 centimeter in diameter and 3 cm in length. The artificial muscle, which is about the same size as the real muscle found in human fingers, is wrapped in a polyester net and comes with a compressor about the size of a syringe.