We developed fully biodegradable soft robotic fingers that integrate biodegradable structures with transient electronic components.
The system demonstrates exceptional durability, operating for over 1 million actuation cycles, while integrating multimodal sensors (curvature, strain, tactile, temperature, humidity, pH) and active components such as heaters, electrical stimulators, and drug delivery modules.
After use, the robot and its electronics degrade under composting conditions, and the resulting materials were shown to support plant growth.
This work demonstrates a promising pathway toward zero-waste soft robotics and sustainable electronic systems.
Nature Sustainability (2026)
