Scientists successfully built self-healing robots

The capabilities of human simulation robots are always growing at breakneck speeds - they can now catch targets or even shoot guns. At the same time, scientists have also brought the potential to create human-like robots to a new level when creating an artificial "skin" capable of healing themselves.

Robots fabricating around the world are now studying flexible robots, because many situations require softer touches than what rigid machines can handle.

The robot arm itself made itself after being stabbed with a knife.

For example, they can slip into cramped places to perform search and rescue tasks, or take fragile objects without breaking or breaking the object. Unfortunately, they will also be more vulnerable, especially if they touch sharp edges in their surroundings.

To solve this problem, researchers at the Vrije University, Brussels (Belgium) have developed a method to create flexible machines that can self-align - all you have to do is supply Heat them.

A scientist stabbed a self-made robotic arm.

Researchers have demonstrated this method by creating a clamping device - a way of a robot arm with artificial muscles capable of healing itself. In the video, you can see the robotic arm is closing itself after being stabbed. This is done thanks to the material the research team uses to make robots: a kind of jelly-like rubber polyeme with lots of fibers that can reorganize and lock up when there is a temperature.

This self-healing feature can lead to the deployment of flexible robots in factories to handle fruits or other delicate items, as well as for search and rescue purposes. However, the team's current design model still requires someone to apply heat to the wound of the robot.

Rubber polymer materials look like finished tablets and can be closed when heated.

To really create flexible machines without much maintenance, the team is currently looking for ways to enable them to automatically activate the recovery mechanism. Perhaps, they will improve polymer materials so that they can repair themselves without external impact, or find a way for the robots to self-heat the broken part. of them.