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Robotic Environmental Monitoring Using Gelatin Hydrogels as a Biodegradable Adhesive
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Author / Producer
Date
2025
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
OPEN ACCESS
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Abstract
Scalable data collection from challenging locations, such as forests or bridges, is essential for biodiversity and environmental monitoring, as well as infrastructure and industrial inspection. Robots can collect this data, by placing sensors with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), perching UAVs, or climbing robots. All require adhesion to substrates with varying roughnesses, from tree bark to concrete and glass. Unfortunately, common adhesion methods are specialized for specific substrates, don’t generalize to different surfaces, or leave behind harmful residue. This work presents the novel use of gelatin-based hydrogels as biodegradable and water-soluble adhesives for reversible adhesion to different surfaces for robotic environmental monitoring. The hydrogel adheres through heating, attaching, and cooling. The hydrogel is released by heating again, and any residue can be washed away with water. To correctly dimension the adhesive, factors affecting the maximum pull-off force are experimentally characterized. The versatility of the adhesive is shown through adhesion to different surfaces. Only 0.1 g is shown to support at least 20 N. Finally, the adhesion method is validated on three robotic monitoring applications: sensor placement, UAV perching, and a climbing robot. These tests demonstrate the utility of biodegradable gelatin hydrogels as adhesives for robotic monitoring applications in natural and industrial settings.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Journal / series
Volume
Pages / Article No.
2401030
Publisher
Wiley-VCH
Event
Edition / version
Methods
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Date collected
Date created
Subject
aerial sensor placement; biodegradable adhesives; climbing robots; drone perching; environmental monitoring; gelatin hydrogels
Organisational unit
09718 - Mintchev, Stefano (ehemalig) / Mintchev, Stefano (former)
Notes
Funding
186865 - CYbER - CanopY Exploration Robots (SNF)