obots that “Feel”: Breakthrough Robotic Skin Could Revolutionize Human-Robot Interactions

[staarker]

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have unveiled a new type of robotic skin that could transform how machines interact with humans and their environment.

The development, published in the journal Science Robotics, brings us closer to machines that touch and feel, opening doors to more intuitive human-robot interactions and advanced robotics applications.

“Having different sensors for different types of touch leads to materials that are complex to make,” lead author Dr David Hardman from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering said in a press release. “We wanted to develop a solution that can detect multiple types of touch at once, but in a single material.”

For years, scientists have considered human skin the gold standard for building responsive robotic systems. Our skin is incredibly versatile and can detect pressure, temperature, texture, and even damage.

However, mimicking this complexity in artificial materials has been a persistent challenge. Traditional solutions, often built using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), have faced serious hurdles, including difficulty bonding soft and rigid layers and issues with electrical interference.

“Having different sensors for different types of touch leads to materials that are complex to make,” lead author Dr David Hardman from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering said in a press release. “We wanted to develop a solution that can detect multiple types of touch at once, but in a single material.”

For years, scientists have considered human skin the gold standard for building responsive robotic systems. Our skin is incredibly versatile and can detect pressure, temperature, texture, and even damage.

However, mimicking this complexity in artificial materials has been a persistent challenge. Traditional solutions, often built using microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), have faced serious hurdles, including difficulty bonding soft and rigid layers and issues with electrical interference. https://thedebrief.org/robots-that-feel ... eractions/