Progress and Roadmap for Intelligent Self-Healing Materials in Autonomous Robotics.

Area of Science:

• Robotics
• Material Science
• Electronics

Background:

• Robots perform diverse tasks, including exploration in extreme environments and healthcare applications via micro/nanobots.
• Self-healing materials offer autonomous repair capabilities, crucial for unpredictable environments and autonomous systems.
• Integrating self-healing properties into robots enhances longevity, reduces electronic waste, and lowers maintenance costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a historical overview of self-healing materials.
• To inspire cross-disciplinary research at the intersection of robotic materials and electronics.
• To establish a classification system for various self-healing materials.

Main Methods:

• Reviewing historical advancements in self-healing materials.
• Analyzing materials and strategies for self-healing in robotics.
• Discussing self-healing applications in stretchable electronics.

Main Results:

• A historical roadmap of self-healing materials is presented.
• New classification avenues for self-healing materials are proposed.
• Current materials and strategies for robotic self-healing are reviewed.

Conclusions:

• Self-healing materials are vital for enhancing robot durability and sustainability.
• This review bridges material science and robotics, fostering innovation.
• Further research is encouraged in self-healing robotic materials and electronics.