2024-06-26 11:00:11
Edible robots might soon transform our diet. A robotic dessert that not only delights us but also contributes to the reduction of electronic waste: a perspective supported by scientists from EPFL, in Switzerland, through the project innovative RoboFood.
Crédit: Nature Reviews Materials (2024).
Historically, robotics and food evolved in separate universes: one metallic and rigid, the other organic and biodegradable. However, recent advances open new perspectives: reduction of electronic waste, nutrition and distribution of medicines, monitoring of the healthand unique gastronomic experiences.
What are the barriers to seeing these robots on our plates? Dario Floreano, director of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems at EPFL, and his colleagues from the RoboFood project explore this question in an article in Nature Reviews Materials. Floreano, together with experts from various European institutions, is studying edible ingredients that can replace traditional robotic components.
Scientists are looking for edible materials with properties similar to non-edible materials. Gelatin can replace rubber, riz simulate foam, and chocolate films protect the robots in humid environments. Other combinations, such asstarch mixed with tannin, imitate the gangs commercial.
Edible robotic components such as actuators, sensors and batteries are already under study. In 2017, EPFL developed an edible gelatin gripper capable of gripping a apple. More recently, a conductive ink to monitor food growth has been created, using activated carbon and gummy candies.
In 2023, researchers designed the first rechargeable edible battery with riboflavin and quercetin, activated carbon to facilitate electron transport, and nori seaweed to prevent short circuits. While this edible battery can power an LED for ten minutesmany challenges remain in creating fully edible robots.
Drones with rice-cake wings and partially edible rolling robots have been developed, but assembling electrical components and fluidic actuators remains complex. Researchers still need to miniaturize these robots, increase their shelf life and… improve their taste.
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