Researchers from Yale University in the United States have created a robot that can amputate its own leg to save itself. Even if the robot loses its limbs in tight situations, it can continue its tasks and assist in search and rescue operations in dangerous conditions. The robot, made from a special material that can be reshaped with an electric current, was inspired by lizards in nature.

Scientists from Yale University in the U.S. have developed a soft robot that can self-amputate, taking inspiration from nature.

The rapid advancements in robot technology often lead scientists to draw inspiration from animal abilities. Soft robots, in particular, offer significant advantages over their solid counterparts made of metal and plastic when it comes to performing tasks requiring flexibility. Researchers at the Faboratory lab affiliated with Yale University designed a robot that can amputate its own limbs in tight situations, inspired by lizards that leave their tails behind in times of danger. In a study published in the Advanced Materials journal, the robot’s detached limb can be reattached later.

Joints made from a new material called bio-adhesive thermoplastic foam (BTF) and a sticky polymer can be melted and separated by applying an electric current, then reconnected later.

USEFUL FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS Lead researcher Bilige Yang mentions that the robot can continue its path in challenging conditions and adapt to different shapes. Yang says, “We can regulate the functionality of the robot as needed.”

Yang believes a robot capable of leaving its limb behind would be useful in search and rescue operations and on planets with hazardous terrains.

Yu Jun Tan, who works on soft electronics and robots at the National University of Singapore, notes that with the invention in the study, they witnessed a soft robot that can self-amputate and reconstruct itself for the first time: This is a very fascinating invention that can be used in various fields. Yang and the team are also working on robotic turtles with round legs like land turtles and flexible legs like sea turtles.