Motors form a core component of many robot designs, providing easily-controlled rotary motion to joints. However, they have one key weakness -- the inability to generate linear motion.

Enter the twisted string actuator (TSA). These take advantage of a twisted string and fixed separator plate to convert rotary motion of a motor into a linear contraction. Though simple in construction, TSA's versatile enough to serve in a variety of applications and designs. Yet, unlike our other actuators, the core of their movement is the humble motor -- intuitive and pragmatic.

Left: Our TSA design in action, March 2021