Self-Healing Materials for Sustainable Soft Robots

Bram Vanderborght

Professor Brubotics, Vrije Universiteit Brussel & imec

Location: Stanford Robotics Center, Packard Electrical Engineering Bldg, Basement

Abstract

Soft robots, inspired by biological systems, are inherently compliant and adaptable yet remain vulnerable to mechanical damage. In contrast, living organisms possess robust self-repair mechanisms—capabilities we have translated into soft robotic systems to restore confidence in their long-term reliability. Our technologies enable autonomous self-healing, significantly enhancing durability, extending operational lifetimes, and enabling higher levels of reuse, recyclability, and bio-based material integration, thereby advancing sustainability. We have transformed the entire value chain by developing functional self-healing materials that go well beyond conventional surface coatings. These materials form fully structural three-dimensional components with a broad spectrum of mechanical, conductive, and magnetic properties. Moreover, they are compatible with multi-material production techniques including filament printing that are traditionally inaccessible to network polymers. Our innovations include self-healing robotic grippers with embedded sensing capabilities that not only detect damage but actively respond to it. Looking ahead, we are advancing novel production methodologies, transitioning from isotropic 3D filament printing toward scalable, low-cost, low-pressure molding techniques. This shift enables higher throughput, improved isotropy, and industrial manufacturability while maintaining self-healing performance.

Beyond robotics, these materials open new opportunities in adjacent domains such as medical phantoms, where tunable mechanical and functional properties, damage tolerance, and reusability are critical for surgical training. In parallel, we are maturing the technology through the deep-tech spin-off Valence Technologies, focusing with Healant on self-healing bicycle and automotive tires.

Bio: 

Prof. dr. ir. Bram Vanderborght obtained his PhD from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel in 2007. He performed research at JRL lab in AIST, Tsukuba (Japan) and did his post-doc researcher at the Italian Institute of Technology. Since 2009 he has been a professor at the VUB where he leads the multidisciplinary research institute Brubotics. He had an ERC starting grant and coordinated four EU projects on self-healing materials for soft robots. He develops core robotic technologies for human-robot collaboration for applications in health and manufacturing. Several spinoffs were founded from Brubotics as Axiles Bionics, Skinetix, Ailos and Valence Technologies. He was till 2021 core lab manager in Flanders Make and is since than affiliated to imec, Belgium. He is a co-EIC of IEEE Robotics & Automation Practice.