An artificial muscle drive unit includes a base and an artificial muscle disposed on the base. The artificial muscle includes an expandable reservoir and a fluid. The fluid is movable within said expandable reservoir to switch the artificial muscle between a non-actuated state in which a dimension of the artificial muscle in a movement direction is a minimum value, and an actuated state, in which the dimension of the artificial muscle is a maximum value. The artificial muscle drive unit also includes a load-bearing support disposed on the base, the load-bearing support comprising a dimension in the movement direction that is greater than or equal to the minimum value.