Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of Biorobotics: A Comprehensive Review on Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Abstract:

To the best of our knowledge, there is no comprehensive review on the environment and sustainability of biorobotics concerning the application of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) to the life cycle and environmental impacts of biorobotic systems. This article has therefore reviewed and discussed the environmental impact and sustainability of bio-robotics applications. Sustainable issues in biorobotics, the combination of biological and mechanical, and electronic subsystems, create special opportunities and problems. The concept of LCA leverages an opportunity to evaluate the entire life cycle of a biorobot that includes the minerals extraction and manufacturing process, coupled with its operation, with end-of-life (EOL) disposal. Major considerations of the review entail the use of sustainable materials, energy consumption in the production process, and energy consumption and efficiency of the operation phase, as well as EOL management. A particular concern is paid to the intricacies of biological systems, data scarcity, and the necessity to use standardised LCA frameworks that would be specific to biorobots. In addition, the article reviews the future trends, such as data modelling, material development, and the strategy of a circular economy that can be implemented to enhance the sustainability of biorobots. The results provide support to the suggestion that LCA should be used in developing the biorobots in an approachable manner that is compatible with the sustainability objectives and reduces the amount of their environmental burden.