As the world considers ways to deploy robots to help with dangerous tasks such as large-scale clean-ups or search and rescue missions, scientists also recommend repairing machines if they cause damage. We have seen lead-like polymers before to create robotic hands that can recover themselves after a violent application. And “biological” androids made from stem cells that can regenerate and reassemble when cut into slices. The latest breakthrough involves tiny micro-bottles that can magnetically “cure” themselves on the fly after they break apart, without the help of humans.
Researchers at the UC San Diego did this by creating 2cm long swimming robots that are shaped like fish and consist of three layers. The bottom and the top contained a conductive part and an upper strip of magnetic microparticles, respectively, with a hydrophobic middle layer sandwiched between the two. They also added platinum to the tail, which reacted with hydrogen peroxide fuel to form oxygen bubbles that powered the robot.
The little swimmer was then able to move around in a petri dish with a weak hydrogen peroxide solution. To observe its healing ability, the scientists cut the bone with a blade. The results, shown in full in the video above, show how the tail walks around without a body until it approaches the rest of the parts and reshapes itself by magnetic interaction. According to the researchers, it can also reassemble if it is cut into three parts or when the magnetic strip is placed in a different position. As for its future impact, the advancement may include the capability in other, larger robots that may then continue to do their job if they are cut in some way.