The ability for any machine to fix itself would be remarkable on several fronts. The efficiencies and return on such a piece of equipment would be revolutionary, especially if it was applied to something as complex as an industrial robot. Remote monitoring and predictive maintenance processes would be simplified as tasks ranging from material handling to packaging ran almost non-stop.
A team from Belgium’s Vrije Universiteit in Brussels has reportedly developed robots that utilize materials which could harness the ability to repair punctures or holes. By applying heat to cuts and abrasions, these “wounds” would essentially heal themselves. These materials, and the related technology, are not new, but their use in the growing field of soft robotics could open a number of new doors.
Soft robotics are loosely defined as machines with an elastic polymer exterior and pneumatic or hydraulic mechanicals. These elastic polymers are comprised of temperature-sensitive microscopic chains that break as they are heated and reform as they cool, regaining their original shape and strength.
So, while this already simplifies robot maintenance, a human being is still needed to apply, direct, and control the heat. Getting the robot to realize it needs to be repaired, and then to apply the heat itself is where additional efficiencies would be realized. This brings the team to their next goal – developing a material loaded with sensors that could tell the robot exactly where there’s a puncture. Ideally, it could then apply the heat as needed.
The downside, ironically, is that this process is currently not efficient enough to be used on the plant floor. Right now, the heat application of the repair process alone can take as long as 40 minutes, then there’s the commensurate cooling time that keeps the equipment out of use while the repair takes place. So, while this technology is not ready for prime time yet, these advanced materials applications could change the shape and feel of automation and maintenance soon.