Biomechanics
Drives modeled on the muscle fiber.
Muscles are quiet, elastic and finely adjustable. We study how these properties can be transferred into technical drives. This page shows the principle.
Properties
What makes muscles special.
A muscle is not a motor in the technical sense. It consists of many small units that work together. Three properties are especially interesting to us.
Quiet
Muscle movement arises without gears and without fast-spinning parts. It is therefore essentially silent.
Elastic
Muscles and tendons give way and store energy. Impacts are cushioned instead of being passed on hard.
Finely adjustable
Force is built up in small steps by more or fewer fibers taking part.
Try it out
Force in small steps.
A muscle regulates its force by activating more or fewer fibers. Move the slider and see how the force is graded.
Simplified illustration of the principle: the more fibers take part, the greater the force.
From the fiber to interplay
Four levels, from small to large.
Movement arises on several levels. We study each one in order to rebuild it technically.
Fiber
The smallest functional unit. Many tiny building blocks in the fiber shorten at the same time and so produce pull.
Bundle
Fibers lie side by side in bundles. The more of them take part, the greater the force. Because single fibers can be switched on or off, the force can be graded finely.
Muscle
Many bundles form the muscle, which is connected to the skeleton by tendons. The tendons are elastic and store energy, which makes movements soft and economical.
Interplay
Muscles rarely work alone. Antagonists, sensory feedback and control ensure that movement stays precise and adapts to the situation.
We study exactly these levels in order to rebuild them technically.
Try it out
How a tendon absorbs impacts.
A hard impact hits the mechanics with full force. An elastic link in between takes up part of it and passes it on softly. Set the impact strength and compare.
Rigid coupling
The impact goes straight into the structure.
Elastic coupling
The elastic link cushions and spreads the impact over more time.
Schematic illustration. The bars show the relative peak load on the structure. The values are not measured.
Comparison
Rigid or elastic?
Where muscle-inspired drives are meant to differ from classic ones.
The middle column describes typical properties, the right column our development goals.
Try it out
Bending and stretching.
Muscles can only pull. That is why they work in pairs: when one tenses, the other gives way. Move the slider and see how the joint responds.
Simplified illustration. Two opposing drives make movement precise. If both hold tension at the same time, the joint becomes stable and compliant at once.
Examples from nature
Four situations, one principle.
Pick a situation and see what the body does and what we derive from it.
Storing energy
When jumping, the tendon in the lower leg stores energy and releases it again at push-off. This saves muscle work. In animals such as kangaroos this effect is especially pronounced.
- Elastic coupling between drive and structure that temporarily stores energy
Fine instead of strong
For fine movements, one nerve controls only a few muscle fibers. In the thigh, one nerve controls very many. So the force is large there and fine here.
- Small, individually controllable units where fineness is needed
Saving with springs
When walking, tensing and relaxing alternate. Tendons and muscles work like springs, and the body gets by with little energy.
- Movement sequences that use elastic elements instead of controlling everything actively
Giving way instead of holding against
When catching a ball, you give way with your arm. The muscles slow the movement down softly instead of stopping it hard.
- Compliant control that cushions impacts instead of rigidly holding against them
Interplay
Movement needs feedback.
A drive alone does not yet make movement. Only in a loop with sensing and AI does it become movement that adapts.
Tissue & Sensing
Touch and pressure are captured.
To the page → 02 · DecideBiology & AI
Embodied AI classifies and learns.
To the page →Biomechanics
Muscle-inspired drives carry out the movement. Then the loop starts again.
Research behind it
Two decades of research. Now implementation begins.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about Biomechanics.
What is biomechanics at Eyroq?
We study how muscles and tendons produce movement and transfer their functional principles into technical drives.
What does “drives modeled on the muscle fiber” mean?
A muscle fiber is the smallest unit of a muscle. Many of them work together and produce force jointly. We transfer this principle, that is many small units instead of a single large motor.
Why are muscles a good model?
Muscles are quiet, elastic and can be adjusted finely. In addition, muscles and tendons balance out impacts by themselves. These properties are hard to achieve in technology.
How is the force graded finely?
A muscle activates more or fewer fibers depending on need. This creates many small force steps instead of a few large jumps. You can try this at the top of this page.
How does this relate to sensing and AI?
Movement needs feedback. The sensing reports what is happening, the AI classifies and learns, and the drive carries out the movement. Only in interplay does movement arise that adapts.
What is the state of development?
Two decades of research lie behind us. We check internally, and in 2026 the results will be tested independently at leading universities.
How can I find out more or work together?
Write to us at info@eyroq.com and briefly describe your request. We will get back to you.
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