Prototype thin-film electronics dock without connectors

Researchers from Kyushu University have developed prototype thin-film electronic modules that can automatically connect and disconnect with each other. Flexible electronics is a growing field of research due to its potential applications in wearable sensors, soft robotics and medical devices.

“Today, most of these devices are made as fixed, one-piece systems. For some time now our group has been developing kinetic electronics, thin-film devices with actuators and circuits so they can move, attach and function together,” said associate professor Fumihiro Sassa from Kyushu University. “In this study, we worked to develop an electromechanical docking mechanism between these thin-film modules that can connect and disconnect with each other when needed.”

In their prototype, the actuator and electrical circuit are integrated on the same thin film. The actuator layer is composed of polypropylene and polyimide, two materials with different thermal expansion coefficients, meaning that they expand at different rates when heated. By incorporating this film with a gold microheater, the film can be heated, causing it to bend.

“We developed a few different variations of docking methods with the device. For example, one of them can loop and hook onto each other. Another one has a claw-like attachment that can lock onto another device and stay locked even when the power is turned off,” Sassa said.

These new devices open new avenues at the intersection of electronics and robotics, where circuit-integrated actuator films not only bend, but are modular and can actively connect and reorganise their functions.

“These devices are still in their early stages, so there are many things we need to work on. I hope this research leads to the development of devices that can — like living organisms — self-assemble, adapt and even repair themselves,” Sassa said.

Image credit: iStock.com/adventtr