Redo Electronics: Designing Reusable, Reconfigurable, and Dissolvable Circuits

Abstract:

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the hidden foundation of modern devices, yet their rigid, single-use design contributes to a growing global e-waste crisis. This talk explores how reimagining PCBs for circularity by making them reusable, reconfigurable, and dissolvable can reshape not only hardware but also human–computer interaction. I will present three systems: SolderlessPCB, which removes the need for solder so chips can be detached and reused; PCBRenewal, which enables a single board to be reconfigured for different applications, from a radio to a Game Boy; and DissolvPCB, the first fully dissolvable, 3D-printed PCB that recovers up to 98% of materials after use. Beyond their technical contributions, these systems show that sustainability is also an HCI challenge, empowering designers, educators, and engineers to assemble, repair, and repurpose electronics in new ways. By reframing circularity as an interactive design principle, this work demonstrates how computing can align with human values of repair, adaptability, and sustainability.

* As a side note, I will also briefly cover my broader research interests in embodied AI, robotics for accessibility, and VR haptics.

Bio:

Huaishu Peng is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland and director of the Small Artifacts Lab (SMART Lab). He explores tangible computing through an interdisciplinary research agenda that makes electronics more repairable, interfaces more accessible, and technology a medium for cultural expression. His work has appeared at CHI, UIST, and SIGGRAPH, earning multiple Best Paper and Honorable Mention awards, and has been featured widely in the media, including Wired, MIT Technology Review, TechCrunch, and Gizmodo.