Scientists at the University of Bristol have unveiled a pioneering method for constructing robots using rice paper, a material more commonly associated with Vietnamese cuisine. This breakthrough could redefine how soft robotics are designed, offering an alternative to traditional silicon. Rice paper was found to rival silicon in strength and flexibility, while also offering advantages such as being biodegradable, non-toxic, and even edible—making it both environmentally friendly and safe for diverse applications.
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Dr Christine Braganza, from Bristol’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, highlighted the innovation’s accessibility and sustainability: “Our research opens the door for anyone to experiment, create, and innovate in soft robotics – right from their own home in a sustainable way.” The team envisions a wide range of uses, from developing simple prototypes to aiding reforestation efforts through seed dispersion in remote or inaccessible areas.
The researchers also noted the material’s potential in culinary contexts and hinted at the development of a self-moving rice paper robot. Their work arrives amidst a surge of progress in soft robotics, including the recent unveiling of a four-legged robot by Edinburgh University that can walk immediately after being 3D printed. Innovations such as these address the scalability issues that have previously limited broader adoption of soft robotic technology.
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Soft robots offer significant promise across various industries, from biomedicine to space exploration. Their flexible construction allows for adaptability in extreme or delicate environments, and in some cases, they can even self-repair. The Bristol team’s findings were published in a paper titled Sustainable fabrication of biodegradable soft robotic actuators, presented at the 2024 IEEE 7th International Conference on Soft Robotics.
