The team have discovered that the common kitchen ingredient, used in Vietnamese spring rolls, is biodegradable, non-toxic and suitable for soft robotic prototyping, outreach and single-use applications.
The study, published today in the Proceeding of the 2024 IEEE 7th International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft), shows that rice paper has material characteristics similar to the most a widely used silicone materials in soft robotics, opening up exciting possibilities for researchers, educators, students and the wider public who want to experiment with soft robotics using sustainable and safe materials at home.
Lead author Christine Braganza based in Bristol’s Faculty of Science and Engineering, explained: “Soft Robotics is a rapidly growing field worldwide that involves the creation of more flexible and adaptable robots using soft materials like silicone elastomers. However, working with silicone generates long-lasting waste and is not always environmentally friendly.”
The researchers conducted a range of experiments to understand how rice paper, which is sustainably sourced from rice (Oryza sativa L.) and cassava root (Manihot esculenta), compares to silicone. They measured its strength, its softness and whether it safely breaks down without harming the environment. They found that it performs similarly to the most widely used soft robotic silicone material in key mechanical properties while offering the added benefit of breaking down quickly without the need for higher temperatures or humidities.
Their discovery could be useful in a variety of ways, for culinary or agricultural applications, creating a new and sustainable norm in prototyping for soft robotics while also accelerating public engagement with soft robotics.
The team are now looking to build a soft robot that can move by itself using only biodegradable materials, for planting seeds in hard-to-reach areas. Their next step is to investigate and produce a compostable fuel system and biodegradable control mechanism, so the robots can move out of the laboratory into the environment.
Christine concluded: “Our research opens the door for anyone to experiment, create, and innovate in soft robotics—right from their own home in a sustainable way.
“It also provides researchers with a fresh approach to prototyping and is promising technology for agricultural and reforestation applications, like reseeding in hard-to-reach areas.”
Paper
‘Sustainable fabrication of biodegradable soft robotic actuators’ by Christine Braganza, Hemma Philamore and Andrew T. Conn in 8th IEEE-RAS International Conference on Soft Robotics (RoboSoft)