Researchers have made new breakthroughs that may have a major impact on future robots. This breakthrough is a new type of metal-elastomer composite that can heal itself and create new electrical connections that bypass the damaged area. This new material Not only can be used for robots, but also for the field of flexible circuits, soft machines, bio-inspired robots and wearable electronic devices.
Prior to this study, the problem with soft and deformable circuits was that the soft structure was easily torn, punctured or mechanically damaged. This meant that loss of conductivity caused the circuit to be unusable. This new material is a soft silicone rubber, Micron-sized indium-bismuth-based metal alloy droplets, which are liquid at room temperature.
The circuit in the material is made by a pen plotter that can break the droplets and make it a conductive line. Magdi stated that the result is a mechanically compliant skin that is highly stretchable and soft like natural skin. If the circuit traces Damage, liquid around the damaged area is broken and new conductive pathways are formed.
This allows to bypass the damaged area and rewire the electrical signal without interruption. The researchers of the project have demonstrated this material in self-healing digital counters and self-healing flexible robot quadrupeds that can function after severe injuries. Researchers plan to design and study a soft conductive material that can then heal electrical and mechanical damage.
