Self-Healing Robot Hand

Belgian researchers have developed a soft polymer robotic hand that can heal itself when damaged. The materials — known as Diels-Alder polymers — utilize thermoreversible covalent bonding to repair rips or punctures macroscopically and microscopically without weak spots.

Soft robotics are becoming increasingly popular for handling fragile objects or interacting with humans. The pliable materials also absorb shocks, protecting the robots from mechanical impacts. However, the materials themselves are susceptible to cuts and perforations. The new polymer features a network of strands that lock together. When torn apart, they can be reorganized by applying heat to the area. Damage in the same location is repaired without compromising strength, and the material is totally recyclable.

So far the team has used the self-healing elastomers to create a gripper, a hand and an artificial muscle. The next step will be to make the repairs automatic, either by providing a mechanism for the robots to apply the heat themselves, or by modifying the material to regenerate spontaneously when torn.