Latest news with #softrobotics
The Independent
a day ago
- Science
- The Independent
Robots made from unlikely new material
Scientists at the University of Bristol have developed robots using rice paper, a material commonly found in Vietnamese spring rolls. This rice paper offers a biodegradable, non-toxic, and edible alternative to silicon, which is typically used in soft robotics. The research aims to make soft robotics experimentation more accessible and sustainable, allowing for innovation from home. Potential applications for these rice paper robots include agricultural reseeding, reforestation in difficult areas, and culinary uses. This breakthrough contributes to the advancing field of soft robotics, which holds promise for transforming areas like biomedicine, nuclear decommissioning, and space exploration.
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Robots Can Feel Now': New Color-Changing Skins Let Machines React Instantly Without Wires, Screens, or Human Input
IN A NUTSHELL 🐙 Researchers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed synthetic skins that mimic the color-changing abilities of marine creatures. ⚙️ These innovative skins utilize autonomous materials that respond to environmental stimuli without the need for traditional electronics. that respond to environmental stimuli without the need for traditional electronics. 📱 Potential applications include wearable devices and soft robotics , offering flexibility and adaptability in various settings. and , offering flexibility and adaptability in various settings. 🌊 The technology excels in wet environments where standard electronics often fail, opening up new possibilities for real-time sensors. The realm of technology is constantly evolving, and researchers are now taking inspiration from nature to create groundbreaking innovations. One such exciting development comes from scientists at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, who are designing synthetic skins capable of changing color just like sea creatures. These remarkable materials are set to revolutionize the world of 'soft' machines and devices, offering a glimpse into a future where technology seamlessly integrates with the environment, all without the need for traditional electronics or user input. The Science of Synthetic Chromatophores At the heart of this innovation lies the mimicry of chromatophores, the pigment-filled sacs found in the skin of marine animals like squids and octopuses. These sacs change color when muscles pull on them, allowing the creature to blend into its surroundings. The research team, led by Stephen Morin, an associate professor of chemistry, has successfully replicated this mechanism to create dynamic, color-changing skins. These autonomous materials can interact with their environment in the absence of user input, offering a cutting-edge solution for applications that require adaptability. The synthetic skins are composed of layers of microstructured, stretchable materials that respond to various stimuli such as heat and light. This capability is particularly significant for soft robotics, where flexibility and adaptability are crucial. By eliminating the need for wires and electronic components, these materials offer a level of versatility that traditional technologies struggle to achieve. Living Skin for Buildings: Smart Facade in Germany Moves Like an Organism to Slash Cooling Needs and Energy Use Applications in Human-Machine Interfaces The potential applications for these color-changing skins extend far beyond robotics. Imagine a world where wearable devices conform to the body and change color to display environmental information—all without the need for rigid screens or power-hungry components. This is the future that these innovative materials could enable. By serving as real-time sensors or communicators, the synthetic skins could replace traditional displays in applications where flexibility or water resistance is critical. Stephen Morin envisions a future where these materials unlock new opportunities in soft robotics and human-machine interfaces. The ability to rapidly and dynamically create patterns in an entirely synthetic structure opens up a realm of possibilities. Whether used in underwater environments or wearable technology, these skins offer a unique solution to challenges that traditional technologies cannot address. 'Robot Skin Heals Itself': Scientists Unveil Breakthrough Tech That Repairs Damage Instantly Without Any Human Intervention Real-World Potential in Wearables and Wet Environments Graduate student Brennan Watts, a co-author of the study, highlights the tunable nature of these materials. By adjusting their chemical makeup, the skins can be programmed to react only to specific environmental conditions such as pH, humidity, or temperature. This precision is invaluable for creating wearable sensors that monitor multiple parameters simultaneously, something that traditional technologies find challenging. The versatility of these materials extends to environments where standard electronics often fail, such as wet or underwater settings. While not intended to replace traditional technology entirely, their unique properties allow them to function where rigid components cannot. This adaptability is a significant strength of the soft materials technology, providing solutions in scenarios where conventional technologies fall short. 'Robots Eaten by Fish': Tiny Water-Quality Bots Disappear After Duty, Leaving No Waste and Mimicking Natural Food Sources Future Prospects and Innovation The research published in the journal Advanced Materials marks a significant milestone in the field of autonomous materials. By drawing inspiration from nature, scientists have developed a technology that not only mimics the capabilities of marine animals but also offers practical applications in various fields. From wearable tech to soft robotics, the potential of these color-changing skins is immense. The ongoing development of these materials promises to reshape our understanding of how technology interacts with the environment. As researchers continue to explore the possibilities, the future of soft materials technology appears bright. The question remains: how far can we push the boundaries of innovation by looking to nature for inspiration? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.3/5 (21)
The National
17-06-2025
- Science
- The National
How a 'soft' robot hand with a sense of touch could revolutionise prosthetics
In a laboratory in Cambridge in the UK, a 'soft' hand attached to a moving metal arm might just represent the future of robotics. While robots are sometimes thought of as rigid devices with jerky movements, the growing field of soft robotics - which embraces the use of more flexible materials such as silicone rubber or in this case a hydrogel - offers a different perspective. The hand in the Cambridge lab feels like a firm jelly – perhaps not unlike a slightly fleshy human hand – and, what is more, it has a remarkable ability to sense touch. But, unlike some other soft robots that are also sensitive to touch, it does not have countless electrode sensors embedded in the surface of the hand. Such soft robots can be expensive to produce and easily damaged, with electrodes at risk of being ripped out. Instead, the researcher who helped to develop the hand, Dr David Hardman, a junior research fellow in the University of Cambridge's department of engineering, has embedded the sensors, of which there are 32, in the wrist. Not only can the hand sense it has been touched, it can detect where and can differentiate between different stimuli. 'Was it a human touch, a piece of metal or a heat gun?' said Dr Hardman, who works in the university's bio-inspired robotics lab. 'We have a lot of redundancy and can extract what we want from the information.' Grasping the future Writing in Science Robotics, the researchers suggested their technology could be incorporated into new designs of soft robots. The most obvious potential real-world application, Dr Hardman said, is in prosthetics, as such an artificial hand could sense in a similar way to a real one. 'If you can interface with the human brain, that's very useful,' he said. 'That's the direction in which we want to go.' Another possible application is in high-tech mattresses that sense where the user is lying, although Dr Hardman warned this was 'still very much in the exploratory stage'. Soft robotics is a field that, tying in with the name of the laboratory in which Dr Hardman works, is 'much more biologically inspired'. Much of the inspiration for this area of research came from scientists looking at the octopus and marvelling at the vast range of things these creatures can do, Dr Hardman said. 'It's taking inspiration from nature, which has had million of years to get good at doing particular tasks,' he said. Another robotics researcher, Prof Liang He, an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the University of Oxford, is interested in 'bringing humanlike sensations to robotic agents'. 'We want our robots to be as sensitive as humans,' he said. 'We also want to design a human-like skin that can better interact with humans.' But it remains the case, scientists say, that human hands can achieve a much higher level of dexterity than even the most advanced robots. Prof Liang indicated that while artificial hands are becoming better able to achieve particular tasks, such as detecting temperature changes or physical stress, they are a long way from matching human hand in terms of overall capability. 'In five or 10 years, in the near future, it will be difficult or nearly impossible that [a robot hand] could have the general capability of a human hand,' he said. 'But we may have robot hands that in certain aspects outperform a human hand.' How does the technology work? The method the hand uses to sense touch is known as electrical impedance tomography and makes use of the way in which external cues, such as touch, change the electric field around the hand that is generated by electrodes. Pressing on the hand changes the way electricity is conducted across its surface, enabling the precise location of the stimulus to be worked out. 'We can use each of these [electrical] channels as a piece of the puzzle about what's happening over the entire surface,' Dr Hardman said. 'A lot of companies making humanoids put a lot of effort into sensations but at the fingertips … there are so many tasks we can do as humans because the rest of our hands are sensitised.' The hand itself is made from a hydrogel, a material that, containing gelatin, has some similarities with edible jelly. In a newly published paper, Dr Hardman and his co-authors, Prof Fumiya Iida, a professor of robotics at Cambridge, and Thomas George Thuruthel, a lecturer in robotics at University College London, describe the hand and its novel way of sensing touch. The researchers show the hand detects and localises even light human touch, and detects the bending of the fingers. It can also work out temperature and humidity levels, through changes in the electrical field around it.
Sustainability Times
08-06-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'Robot Skin Heals Itself': Scientists Unveil Breakthrough Tech That Repairs Damage Instantly Without Any Human Intervention
IN A NUTSHELL 🔧 Engineers at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have developed a self-healing artificial muscle that mimics biological tissue. that mimics biological tissue. 🔥 The muscle uses a Joule heating process to autonomously detect and repair damage without human intervention. to autonomously detect and repair damage without human intervention. 🔄 By utilizing electromigration , the system can erase damage paths, making the muscle reusable and extending its lifespan. , the system can erase damage paths, making the muscle reusable and extending its lifespan. 🌿 The technology's implications include enhancing durability in agriculture equipment and wearable medical devices, while reducing electronic waste. In a groundbreaking development, engineers from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln have unveiled an innovative self-healing artificial muscle. This technology replicates the self-repair mechanisms found in living organisms, marking a significant leap in the field of soft robotics. By employing liquid metal and heat, this new muscle can autonomously detect and repair damage, potentially transforming industries that rely on durable electronic systems. This breakthrough was presented at the prestigious IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, highlighting its potential to revolutionize how machines handle wear and tear. Mimicking Biology Through Soft Robotics Biomimicry has long fascinated scientists, especially the ability to replicate how biological organisms sense and heal damage. Led by Eric Markvicka, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln team has made strides in this area. Traditionally, the challenge has been to develop materials that not only mimic the flexibility and softness of biological systems but also their capability to self-repair. Markvicka's team addressed this by creating a multi-layered artificial muscle. The muscle's base is a soft electronic skin embedded with liquid metal microdroplets, providing the ability to detect and locate damage. Above this, a robust thermoplastic elastomer layer enables self-healing, while the top actuation layer facilitates movement through pressurization. This innovative combination allows the artificial muscle to respond to damage much like living tissue, making it a significant achievement in soft robotics. Living Skin for Buildings: Smart Facade in Germany Moves Like an Organism to Slash Cooling Needs and Energy Use Smart Repair With Built-In Heating This artificial muscle goes a step further by autonomously initiating repairs. It uses five monitoring currents to detect damage within the electronic skin. When a breach occurs, the system creates a new electrical path, which is then used to generate heat via a Joule heating process. This heat effectively melts and reseals the damaged area, allowing the muscle to heal itself without any human intervention. Once repaired, the system must reset the damage footprint, utilizing electromigration—traditionally a challenge in electronics. By shifting metal atoms, the team cleverly flips this flaw into a feature, erasing the damage path and making the system reusable. This unique approach not only repairs but also perpetuates the functionality of the artificial muscle, demonstrating a sophisticated blend of engineering and biological imitation. 'They Morph Like Liquid Metal': Scientists Reveal Mini-Robot Swarm That Shape-Shifts Just Like in Sci-Fi Movies Flipping a Flaw Into a Feature Electromigration is typically seen as a negative in electronic systems, often leading to circuit failures. However, the Nebraska team has ingeniously used this phenomenon to their advantage. By intentionally harnessing electromigration, they can erase the damage path, effectively resetting the system for future use. This approach turns a common electronic failure into a beneficial process, showcasing a novel way to address system longevity and reliability. 'Electromigration is generally seen as a huge negative,' Markvicka stated, emphasizing the innovative application of this failure mode. This breakthrough not only extends the lifespan of the artificial muscle but also opens new avenues for electronic miniaturization, where managing electromigration is crucial. 'Concrete That Heals Itself': Scientists Create Lichen-Inspired Material That Uses Microbes to Seal Cracks Automatically Future Impact in Farming, Wearables, and Waste The potential applications of this self-healing technology are vast. In agriculture, where equipment often encounters physical damage from natural elements, self-repairing systems could significantly enhance operational durability. Wearable medical devices, subjected to constant movement and stress, could also benefit, leading to longer-lasting and more reliable health monitors. Moreover, reducing electronic waste is a critical environmental concern. By integrating self-healing capabilities, electronic devices could enjoy prolonged lifespans, reducing the need for replacements and minimizing waste. This advancement could play a crucial role in sustainable technology development, offering benefits that extend well beyond immediate practical applications. As we embrace these technological advancements, the question arises: How will this self-healing technology shape the future of industries reliant on durable electronic systems, and what further innovations might it inspire? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.4/5 (21)
