Movable soft robotic fingers made of plant materials
Researchers at Seoul National University are developing elastic and soft robotic fingers that analyze in the soil over time and acts as a natural fertilizer. The body of the robotic fingers is made of polyglycerol sebacate, a synthetic elastomer made from glycerin and sebacic acid. Glycerol is a by-product of biodiesel production, while sebacic acid is derived from castor oil and both are of plant origin. Sebacic polyglycerol is safe, as it is already used in medical implants, because the body can absorb it without a toxic response.
Typical sensors and active elements of electronic components are made of silicon, molybdenum and magnesium, which are inorganic materials found in every smartphone and circuit board currently filling landfills. For the soft robotic fingers, the researchers used a class of electronics called transient inorganics, or components designed to dissolve under certain conditions. The glue that connects the electronic layer to the elastomer body is based on polyanhydride, a class of polymer that breaks down when it comes into contact with water.
All images courtesy of researchers at Seoul National University
devices that dissolve in soil as fertilizers
To test whether soft robotic fingers actually degrade over time, the researchers composted the complete system, including the elastomer, glue, silicon, molybdenum, and magnesium, and then used this compost as soil to grow oats. The study finds that oats did grow and germination rates were within the range of oats grown in control soil. The silicon, molybdenum, and magnesium left behind by the decaying electronics didn’t stop the growth, so in the end, the soft robotic fingers acted as fertilizer.
One of the problems with new technologies is that they leave a residue in the environment, which can damage it, including a common surgical robot used once in a procedure, a sensor deployed in a field to monitor soil conditions, or even a device released into a body of water to measure pH. Discarding them means that these components end up in landfill, especially when they are not properly recycled. With the research design, the team hopes that the objects that once lived to help people, even saving their lives, return to the planet by taking care of what it produces.
Researchers at Seoul National University develop elastic and soft robotic fingers that decompose on the ground
the body of the moving devices is made of plant materials
The researchers used electronics called transient minerals, or components designed to dissolve
view of decay over time
the device can catch objects, as shown in the picture
project information:
name: Biodegradable yet ultra-durable robotic fingers for zero-waste soft electronics
institution: Seoul National University | @snu.official
researchers: Kyung-Sub Kim, Jun-Seok Shim, Sung-Woo Kim, Gyeong-Seok Hwang, You-Jung Park, Joran Booth, Jae-Young Bae, Jong-hyoung Kim, Min-Ha Oh, Minseong Chae, Jooik Jeon, Ju-Yong Lee, Jae-Choohae Se-Lee, Se-Hun Kang, Joo-Hyeon Park, Yong-Wu Kim, Woo-Jin Lee, Im-Deok Kim, Ki-Hyun Kim, Seong-Yu Choi, Jeong-Yun Sun, Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, Myoung-Ryul Ok, Jae Joon Kim, Hy-Bunik Keun, Seung-Kyun Kang
study: here
