How does a muscle actually function? Is it technically possible to reproduce a muscle? This question has already robbed many an inventor and project manager of sleep. What is possible mechanically and is it chemically and physically feasible?

Amongst the few durable solutions is the Fluidic Muscle from Festo, which is the principle performer in this book. It consists of an advanced high performance material and creates powerful and fast movements in a new way. An old idea has caught on in a high-tech era.

In this book, a disproportionate view of the Fluidic Muscle will generally be shown in order to highlight its importance. In reality, a Muscle with an internal diameter of, for example, 10 mm takes up relatively little space. This is also an advantage when it comes to subsequent installation into existing machine structures.

This book is intended to provide suggestions for the use of the Muscle and to explain its function, point out the advantages and disadvantages and to provide an idea of suitable areas of application