Artificial Muscle

About Artificial Muscle

Artificial Muscle, Inc. (AMI) was a developer and manufacturer of electroactive polymer (EAP) technology, also known as artificial muscles. The company was established in 2003 as a spin-off from the non-profit research and development organization SRI International to commercialize their patented Electroactive Polymer Artificial Muscle (EPAM) technology. The foundational EAP technology was developed at SRI International by researchers led by Roy Kornbluh, a principal inventor of the dielectric elastomer type of EAP.

AMI focused on creating products based on its proprietary EPAM technology, which mimics the motion of natural muscles by expanding and contracting in response to electrical voltage. This technology offered advantages over conventional electromagnetic actuators, being lighter, smaller, quieter, and more energy-efficient. The company's product line included actuators, generators, and sensors designed for various markets, such as consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, and industrial automation. One of its key product developments was the Universal Muscle Actuator™ (UMA™), which won the Frost and Sullivan Actuator Technology Product Innovation of the Year Award in 2006.

In March 2010, Artificial Muscle, Inc. was acquired by Bayer MaterialScience LLC (a subsidiary of Bayer AG) for an undisclosed price. The acquisition was aimed at combining AMI's technology portfolio, which included over 70 patents, with Bayer's material science expertise to accelerate the market introduction of EAP technology. Key applications targeted after the acquisition included providing realistic haptic feedback for consumer electronics like smartphones, gaming controllers, and touchpads through products like ViviTouch. All AMI employees, including then-CEO Scott Metcalf, remained with the company following the acquisition. In 2015, Bayer MaterialScience was separated from Bayer AG and became a legally and economically independent entity named Covestro.