Every year our world is becoming more amazing and beautiful. We have long been accustomed to robots that have become an integral part of our lives. But scientists do not stand still and continue to implement the most unusual ideas! In this article, we'll talk about amazing biorobots that help save the Earth!
Our best friend is under threat
Soil is one of the most important and underestimated elements of our planet: without it, we would not be able to grow food and obtain vital resources. It is the soil that fights drought, protects against floods, and can sequester carbon dioxide for years to come. However, it has recently been under threat due to climate change.
An unusual solution
To understand what processes are taking place deep underground, Italian scientists have come up with an interesting robo-solution. They've created a robot that simulates seeds.
Researchers at the Bioinspired Soft Robotics Laboratory in Genoa have developed the first 4D-printed robot: it can act as a sensor for monitoring pollutants, CO2 levels, temperature and humidity in the soil.
What inspired scientists
As a prototype, the researchers took seeds from South African geranium (or appendicular pelargonium). They are able to change shape depending on the humidity of the environment. Scientists have found that during growth, geranium seeds separate from the mother plant and move, penetrating cracks in the soil. They wriggle and change shape to adapt to their new habitat.
What the researchers did
A team of scientists has created an imitation of geranium seeds using 3D printing and electrospinning technologies. They used materials that also expand and contract when exposed to moisture. To make artificial seeds attract more water, the researchers used melting modeling, printing a substrate layer of biodegradable thermoplastic polyester activated by oxygen plasma. They then added electroformed hygroscopic fibers consisting of a polyethylene oxide shell and a cellulose nanocrystal core.
What came out of it
On the soil sample, the resulting robot was able to move, change shape, adapting to holes in the ground, and bury itself on its own, like a natural seed. In addition, the robot was able to withstand a weight of 100 times its own.
After testing, one of the scientists named Luca Cecchini confidently stated that these biodegradable robots could be used as “wireless and battery-free tools for monitoring the soil surface.”
Thus, scientists every day create innovative solutions that carefully improve the well-being of our planet.
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