Researchers have developed a revolutionary robotic skin that brings machines closer to achieving a human-like sense of touch.
Made from a flexible, low-cost gel material, the skin transforms the entire surface of a robotic hand into a sensitive and intelligent sensor.
Unlike traditional robotic skins that rely on a patchwork of different sensors, this material can detect pressure, temperature, pain, and even distinguish multiple contact points simultaneously.
Developed by researchers from the University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL), the flexible, conductive skin is easy to fabricate and can be melted down and moulded into a wide range of complex shapes.
The technology allows robots to sense and process a variety of physical inputs, enabling more meaningful interactions with the physical world.
Unlike other robotic touch solutions—which typically use embedded sensors limited to small areas and require different sensors for different stimuli—the entirety of this new electronic skin functions as a sensor. This makes it more similar to the human skin, where sensory information is distributed across the surface.
While the robotic skin is not yet as sensitive as human skin, it can detect signals from over 860,000 tiny pathways within the material. This allows it to recognise different types of touch and pressure—such as a finger tap, hot or cold surfaces, damage from cutting or stabbing, or multiple simultaneous contact points—all within a single material.
The researchers used a combination of physical tests and machine learning techniques to help the skin ‘learn’ which of these pathways are most important, enabling it to sense different types of contact more efficiently.
In addition to potential applications in humanoid robots and prosthetics—where a sense of touch is vital—the researchers suggest the robotic skin could be useful in industries such as automotive manufacturing and disaster relief.
The results have been published in the journal Science Robotics.
Electronic skins work by converting physical information—like pressure or temperature—into electronic signals. Traditionally, different types of sensors are needed for different kinds of touch. These sensors are embedded into soft, flexible materials, but they can interfere with one another and are prone to damage.
“Having different sensors for different types of touch leads to materials that are complex to make,” said lead author Dr David Hardman from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.
“We wanted to develop a solution that can detect multiple types of touch at once, but within a single material,” he added.
“At the same time, we need something that’s cheap and durable, so it’s suitable for widespread use,” said co-author Dr Thomas George Thuruthel from UCL.
In future, the researchers aim to enhance the durability of the electronic skin and conduct further tests in real-world robotic applications.
(ANI)