section_path: Mechanical robotics areas/Actuation/Elastic nanotubes
section_name: Elastic nanotubes
paragraph_text: Elastic nanotubes
  
  Elastic nanotubes are a promising artificial muscle technology in early-stage experimental development. The absence of defects in carbon nanotubes enables these filaments to deform elastically by several percent, with energy storage levels of perhaps 10 J /cm for metal nanotubes. Human biceps could be replaced with an 8 mm diameter wire of this material. Such compact "muscle" might allow future robots to outrun and outjump humans.