Robots Also Become "Waste"... Eco-Friendly Robots That Return to Soil After Completing Their Mission [Reading Science]

Maintains Performance Even After 1 Million Cycles
Development of a Soft Robot System with Fully Degradable Electronic Components

Eco-friendly robot technology has emerged to address the issue that robots and electronic devices could eventually become "waste." A domestic research team has developed a soft robot electronic system that operates as a high-performance robot during use, but after completing its mission, fully decomposes in nature and returns to the soil.

The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on March 13 that Professor Kang Seungkyun's research team from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Seoul National University has developed a soft robot platform that is completely decomposed in industrial composting environments after operation, by combining highly durable biodegradable elastomers and inorganic electronic devices. The research results were published online on March 5 in the international journal "Nature Sustainability."

Completely Compostable Soft Robot System. Provided by the Research Team

This study is notable for implementing an electronic system that is returned to nature after use, while maintaining the performance and durability of soft robots. In particular, the research is characterized by realizing a "fully biodegradable robot" in which not only the structure but also the electronic components completely decompose.

The Era of Growing Electronic Waste from Robots

The problem of electronic waste is becoming increasingly severe due to the proliferation of electronic devices and automation technologies. According to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), about 62 million tons of electronic waste were generated globally in 2022.

Especially in the case of soft robots, various materials such as thermosetting polymer elastomers, alloys, and semiconductors are combined in multilayer structures, making recycling virtually impossible. Since they are not naturally degradable, soft robots have been criticized as a technology that increases environmental burden.

Maintains Performance Even After 1 Million Cycles

The research team implemented a fully biodegradable robotic electronic system by integrating highly durable biodegradable elastomers (PGS), biodegradable adhesives (PBTPA), and inorganic electronic devices based on magnesium (Mg), molybdenum (Mo), and silicon (Si).

Biodegradation process of soft robot fingers. Provided by the research team

Through this, they manufactured a soft actuator with low hysteresis and excellent resilience. Experimental results showed that the robotic finger exhibited almost no change in bending angle or output force even after 1 million repeated operations, and maintained stable performance even after being stored for more than six months.

The team also implemented multi-sensory electronic devices that can detect the environment, integrating sensors for curvature, deformation, tactile sensing, temperature, humidity, and pH. Active functions such as heaters, electrical stimulators, and drug release devices were also designed to be electronically controlled.

Returns to Compost After Completing Its Mission

The research team exposed the robotic system to an industrial composting environment and confirmed that the structure and electronic components were completely decomposed by microbial action within several months. In another experiment, plants were cultivated in the compost produced after decomposition, and normal growth was observed, demonstrating the absence of environmental toxicity.

Professor Kang Seungkyun said, "This study presents a fundamental solution to the waste problem caused by robots and electronic devices," adding, "It can be expanded into sustainable robot technology that interacts with the environment and performs various missions."

This technology is expected to have great potential for use in single-use medical robots that are difficult to retrieve, agricultural and environmental monitoring equipment, and disaster exploration robots. It is also being recognized for presenting a new technological paradigm in which robots return to the soil as part of nature, rather than becoming waste, after completing their missions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.