Pneumatic artificial muscles

Have you ever blown up a balloon and then let all the air out really quickly? That's kind of like how pneumatic artificial muscles work, but instead of a balloon, it's a special kind of rubber tube that can stretch and contract when air is pumped in or out.

These rubber tubes are connected to a machine that pumps air in and out really fast, making the muscles move. Imagine if you have a tube that's connected to a pump, and you squeeze the pump really fast - the tube will get smaller and smaller, and then bigger and bigger, just like a muscle moving.

Pneumatic artificial muscles are used in a lot of things, like prosthetic arms for people who have lost their arms, or robots that need to move and grip objects. They can be made in lots of different sizes and strengths, so they're really helpful for all kinds of different purposes.