Robots Can Heal Themselves
August 28, 2017 | VUBEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Cutting your hand, tearing a muscle, or even breaking a bone - these are all injuries that heal over time. Researchers at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel have also endowed robots with this self-healing property, as illustrated in their study “Self-healing soft pneumatic robots”, published in Science Robotics.
Research into soft robots has been underway for some time at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). Inspired by the soft tissue from which humans and many other organisms are made, these robots are constructed from flexible materials. Their flexibility allows soft robots to be used for countless applications. They are used to grab delicate and soft objects in the food industry or in minimally invasive surgery. They also play an important role in rehabilitation and arm prostheses. The new technology was also picked up by Disney. The movie “Big Hero 6” introduces the inflatable robot, Baymax, a soft robot based on a working prototype. Being made from soft materials, soft robots can perform tasks in dynamic work environments while ensuring safe contact with humans. However, the soft materials also make them susceptible to damage caused by sharp objects or excessive pressure. Damaged components must be replaced to avoid the robot ending up on the scrap heap.
Rubbery polymers
In a prestigious European ERC project at the VUB, scientists have come up with a method that enables soft robots to completely heal from such damage. They build soft robots made completely from rubbery polymers with built-in healing capacity. When damaged, these materials first recover their original shape and then heal completely. This principle was applied in three self-healing robotic components: a gripper, a robotic hand, and an artificial muscle. These resilient, pneumatic components were damaged under controlled conditions, to test whether the scientific principle also works in practice. The results were most satisfactory: realistic damage could be healed completely without leaving any weak spots. After healing, the prototypes were able to fully resume their tasks.
Prof. Bram Vanderborght of BruBotics and Flanders Make: “The outcome of the research opens up promising perspectives. Robots can not only be made lighter and safer, they will also be able to work longer independently without requiring constant repairs.”
Self-healing soft pneumatic robots. Seppe Terryn, Joost Brancart, Dirk Lefeber, Guy Van Assche and Bram Vanderborght.
Suggested Items
SMC Korea 2024 to Highlight Semiconductor Materials Trends and Innovations on Industry’s Path to $1 Trillion
04/24/2024 | SEMIWith Korea a major consumer of semiconductor materials and advanced materials a key driver of innovation on the industry’s path to $1 trillion, industry leaders and experts will gather at SMC (Strategic Materials Conference) Korea 2024 on May 29 at the Suwon Convention Center in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea to provide insights into the latest materials developments and trends. Registration is open.
Groundbreaking Ceremony Marks the Beginning of a New Era for Newccess Industrial; The Construction of the MINGXIN Building
04/12/2024 | Newccess IndustrialOn a clear and sunny day in March, the groundbreaking ceremony for the MINGXIN Building took place in Shenzhen, China. This moment marked the official commencement of construction for a project that will reshape the semiconductor materials industry.
The Need for a Holistic Global Sustainability Standard
04/10/2024 | Michael Ford, Aegis SoftwareNo one can deny that the resources of our fragile planet are finite. The environment seems like a third party, subject to constant degradation. We’re acutely aware of the effects of pollution on our climate, and despite our “throw-away” culture, recycling and recovery of materials has remained relatively expensive, even as we use more energy just to survive.
iNEMI Publishes Four Roadmap Topics
04/04/2024 | iNEMIThe International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI) announces the availability of the first roadmap topics in the new iNEMI Roadmap format. Printed circuit boards, sustainable electronics, smart manufacturing, and mmWave materials and test are now available online.
Insulectro’s 'Storekeepers' Extend Their Welcome to Technology Village at IPC APEX EXPO
04/03/2024 | InsulectroInsulectro, the largest distributor of materials for use in the manufacture of PCBs and printed electronics, welcomes attendees to its TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE during this year’s IPC APEX EXPO at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 9-11, 2024.