Self-healing jelly bot regenerates when stabbed – just add heat
To prove the concept, researchers at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) in Belgium created a gripper, a robot hand and an artificial muscle, all with the ability to self-heal, out of rubbery polymers that look a bit like jelly. When ripped or cut they can knit back together completely. All you need to do is apply a little heat.
“The polymer has lots of different strands that lock together to form the material. When you add heat, they reorganise to stick back together without leaving any weak spots,” says Bram Vanderborght, who led the research.
The soft materials are ideal for picking up delicate items like fruit or veg, so could find uses in the food industry. Additionally, they are useful for working alongside humans, such as in factory lines, where softer robots or robotic arms will help avoid harmful accidents.
See the full story here: https://www.newscientist.com/article/2144245-self-healing-jelly-bot-regenerates-when-stabbed-just-add-heat