Carbon fibre 'muscle' can lift 12,600 times its own weight

University of Illinois researchers are developing artificial carbon fibre muscles that can lift up to 12,600 times their own weight, and support up to 60 MPa of mechanical stress. Made from siloxane rubber, the coiled actuators are activated by electricity. A 0.4-mm diameter bundle was able to lift 1.9 litres water by 3.5 cm with just 0.172 V/cm applied voltage.