Today there are robots almost for everything: from those that allow us to travel, study climate change, go into volcanoes or underwater funds of other worlds, But none ends up being food. Until now.
In a surprising advance towards truly ecological robotics, Swiss scientists They have developed tiny aquatic robots that monitor water quality and are safe for fish consumption Once your mission is over. The technology behind these robots is described in an article published in Nature.
Shaped like miniature and propelled motor boats for a reactioneithern qu.Yomicathese “edible explorers” estton transforming the idea of technologyYoto disposable in something much mtos sustainable and surprisingly digestible.
Created by Professor Darío Floreano and his team in the EPFL (Federal Polytechnic School of Lausana), each small robot with Motor boat shape measures only 5 centimeters long and weighs approximately 1.43 grams. Despite their size, they are surprisingly fast, sliding through water at speeds up to three times its body length per second, equivalent to 0.5 km/h.
The secret lies in its construction and chemical composition. Robots are made of food pellets for ground, molded and lyophilized fish to shape them. Inside, A small camera contains an innocuous mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. This camera is sealed with a gel cap and covered with a non -toxic propylene tank.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubyv80Falh8
Once placed on the water, the robot slowly absorbs moisture through the semipermeable cap. Upon contact with the dust of the interior, A chemical reaction is produced that releases carbon dioxide. The gas expels glycol through a small rear opening. This creates a natural propulsion similar to that used by insects such as aquatic shoes. Thanks to this effect, the robot gently moves forward without the need for batteries or engines.
The Florean team wants to release these tiny robots in ponds, lakes or other aquatic surfaces, where they will drift and collect valuable data. Equipped with sensors, robots They can measure data such as water temperature, pH or the presence of pollutantstransmitting the information wirelessly or storing it for later recovery.
But true magic occurs at the end of its mission. With the passage of time, the helmets of these tiny robots absorb water, They soften and finally sink. At that time, they become part of the food chain, literally. Fish and other aquatic animals can consume them without danger, thanks to their totally edible and non -toxic composition.
There is also the possibility of a different use: Use robots to distribute food medicated in fish farms. Even if they are not consumed, all components are designed to biodegrade completely, without leaving any trace.
A pending challenge are the sensors themselves. Yes ok The bodies of the robots disappear without a tracethe next big step is to ensure that electronic components are equally biodegradable, or even edible.
“The replacement of electronic waste with biodegradable materials is subject to intensive study, but edible materials with nutritional profiles and specific functions have barely been considered, and They open a world of opportunities for human and animal health”, Concludes Florean in a statement.