Scientists at Stanford University have created a synthetic skin containing electronic mechanoreceptors that could be installed to a prosthetic limb or provide robots with a sense of touch. The skin is made up of various layers: one layer contains carbon nanotubes that move closer together when pressure is applied, making the nanotubes more conductive; and the other layer contains an ink jet-printed organic electrical circuit, which sends out different intensities of electrical pulses, depending on the level of conductivity created by the pressure applied to the skin. In addition to providing tactile feedback, the new material also has potential applications in medical applications. Researchers at MIT, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California are also developing touch-sensitive skin.
Scientists at Stanford University have created a synthetic skin containing electronic mechanoreceptors that could be installed to a prosthetic limb or provide robots with a sense of touch. The skin is made up of various layers: one layer contains carbon nanotubes that move closer together when pressure is applied, making the nanotubes more conductive; and the other layer contains an ink jet-printed organic electrical circuit, which sends out different intensities of electrical pulses, depending on the level of conductivity created by the pressure applied to the skin. If applied to an android, its computer system would be able to analyse the level of electrical pulses, giving it a sense of touch. Researchers at MIT, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Southern California are also developing touch-sensitive skin.