IEEE Spectrum breed · Technology

Roboticist Advocates for "Sustainability Robotics"

Barbara Mazzolai, an associate director at the Italian Institute of Technology, is proposing a new field of robotics focused on environmental responsibility. Drawing inspiration from nature throughout her career, she now aims for her technological creations to benefit the environment.

Mazzolai, who transitioned from biology to engineering, has developed bioinspired robots based on organisms like octopuses and plant roots. Her work emphasizes learning from nature's evolutionary solutions to diverse problems.

She believes engineering must address its environmental impact, leading her to advocate for "sustainability robotics." This approach integrates sustainability as a core design principle to improve the relationship between nature, humanity, and technology.

Her early career involved environmental research, studying heavy metal cycles and developing sensors and robots for environmental monitoring. This led to her pioneering work in soft robotics, inspired by octopuses.

Mazzolai's research expanded to plant-inspired robots, focusing on root systems' ability to explore underground environments. This led to the development of a robot that grows its body from its tip, mimicking plant growth for efficient soil exploration.

The "sustainability robotics" concept has three pillars: minimal environmental impact, accessibility across socioeconomic backgrounds, and symbiotic benefits for humans and nature.

Mazzolai envisions robots designed with their entire life cycle in mind, allowing for reuse, recycling, or biodegradation at the end of their useful life. She is confident this vision will inspire future roboticists to develop technologies that aid environmental recovery.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.