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Graphene Helps a Robot Creep Like an Inchworm
LilaG writes "To develop new materials for robotics, scientists have developed graphene-based actuators that convert electricity into motion. In robots, actuators act like muscles, driving the movement of mechanical arms and fins. Most actuator materials, such as ceramics and conductive polymers, respond slowly, require a lot of power, or provide very little force. To make speedy, strong actuators, Chinese researchers coated graphene paper with the polymer polydiacetylene. Graphene provides a highly conductive, flexible backing for the fragile polymer crystals, which deform in response to electrical current. The actuators can bend 200 times per second and generate more force than most current materials. Using a sheet of the material, the scientists built a simple inchworm robot that arches and relaxes to crawl forward."
From the summary, it sounds like the graphene is just a substrate for run-of-the-mill piezoelectric crystals. If so, then yes, the process should be reversible.
Since it's a journal article, they can try going to their local university library where they may be able to access it for free. It's not an option for everyone, but people who are interested and have a university library that offers free access to (e)journals should learn to get off their lazy asses to fulfill those interests.
Conventional motors require elaborate gearing which occupies space, makes noise and increases maintainance requirements.
This kind of shapeshifting only works on a small scale where you don't need much force. For big, strong robots you can use pneumatics/hydraulics for smooth movement.