Pneumatic artificial muscles Pneumatic artificial muscles Pneumatic artificial muscles (PAMs) are contractile or extensional devices operated by pressurized air filling a pneumatic bladder. In an approximation of human muscles, PAMs are usually grouped in pairs: one agonist and one antagonist. PAMs were first developed (under the name of "McKibben Artificial Muscles") in the 1950s for use in artificial limbs. The Bridgestone rubber company (Japan) commercialized the idea in the 1980s under the name of Rubbertuators. The retraction strength of the PAM is limited by the sum total strength of individual fibers in the woven shell. The exertion distance is limited by the tightness
The Human Body (TV series) July 2001 and includes a 50-minute feature on "The Making of the Human Body" - A final overview that reveals the techniques and developments that made the series possible. The series was adapted into a film released for IMAX cinemas. The film won the Giant Screen Theatre Association's Best Film For Lifelong Learning award. The book accompanying the series was written by Anthony Smith. According to one review, "Smith transcends anatomical trivia to record our bodies' powerful tale with empathy and clarity." The Human Body (TV series) The Human Body is a seven-part documentary series, first shown on 20 May