Researchers develop regenerating robot

Researchers develop regenerating robot

Robots are increasingly becoming "softies": Researchers have been working on robots for a number of years, which are more flexible than the classic representatives and can thus fulfill other tasks - thanks to rubber and pneumatics, for example in operations in disaster areas. Their softness makes them naturally more vulnerable to "injuries" by pointed objects in unsafe terrain.

A team headed by Bram Vanderborght from the Free University of Brussels is now introducing a special plastic robot, which can be regenerated after damage. Their pneumatic elements consist of self-healing elastomers - so-called Diels-Alder polymers, as the scientists report in a technical journal. Damage such as a crack or slit closed again by gentle warming for about an hour.

Wounds heal as fast as "Wolverine"

As can be seen in a video (see below) of the specialist journal, wounds seem to heal within a very short time - similar to the "X-Men" comic figure "Wolverine". Back remains only a small scar, which does not represent a weak spot afterwards, it says in the specialist article. The functionality is almost completely restored.

Previous materials very vulnerable

The scientists have tried this method with a robot hand, a gripper arm and an artificial muscle. The great potential of soft robots lies in their suitability for rough terrain, therefore scientists are proposing to switch to soft plastics for soft robots. The materials used so far made the machines very sensitive to damage or wear.