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arXiv · 2610.40285

MUSBRIC: LEGO-Compatible Pneumatic Muscle Bricks for Reconfigurable Musculoskeletal Robots

Qiyao Wang·Yinglei Zhu·Liang Zhou·Wenzhe Gong·Xin-Jun Liu·Huichan Zhao
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Abstract

Musculoskeletal robots combine compliant actuators with articulated skeletons, but exploring alternative configurations often requires repeated fabrication. We present MUSBRIC, a modular hardware platform and accompanying MuJoCo-based simulator for reconfigurable musculoskeletal robots. LEGO-compatible endcaps turn fiber-reinforced extensile pneumatic artificial muscles into reusable, plug-and-play muscle bricks that connect directly to standard LEGO components. Experimentally identified actuator behavior supports corresponding musculoskeletal simulations. An elbow-joint prototype validates load-dependent flexion and extension, showing that pulley-guided routing enables reversible motion and a mechanical stop stabilizes the straight posture. A robotic hand demonstrates compliant grasping and multi-joint construction. Matched hardware and simulation sweeps across 15 leg configurations demonstrate systematic exploration of attachment geometry, while a quadruped assembled from four legs demonstrates walking. Together, these demonstrations span mechanism analysis, configuration exploration, and functional robot construction within a single reconfigurable system. The hardware designs and simulation code will be released as open source soon to facilitate reproduction and further development.

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Qiyao Wang, Yinglei Zhu, Liang Zhou, Wenzhe Gong, Xin-Jun Liu, Huichan Zhao. 2026-10-29. MUSBRIC: LEGO-Compatible Pneumatic Muscle Bricks for Reconfigurable Musculoskeletal Robots. https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.40285

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