Revolutionary artificial skin lets robots feel, heralding a new era in healthcare and rescue missions

Scientists have developed a new type of flexible artificial skin that allows robots to feel touch in a way similar to humans. Equipping machines with a sense of touch can bring numerous benefits.

This new synthetic skin is flexible and enables machines to mimic human touch sensations. Researchers anticipate its use in healthcare and massage therapy, designing robots to assist in these areas.

A team from the University of Texas in Austin, United States, has announced the creation of this groundbreaking artificial skin. They aim to provide machines with a tactile sense to enhance their precision in tasks that require a delicate touch. Although similar technologies exist, they fall short; they lose their sensitivity to pressure when stretched.

Prof. Nanshu Lu, the inventor, describes in "Matter" magazine that just as human skin needs to stretch and bend to accommodate our movements, so does electronic skin. No matter how much it stretches, its response to pressure remains constant, which is a significant achievement.

The innovation combines two distinct technologies that were previously used independently in the production of artificial skins. Scientists have achieved meaningful progress by integrating both types of sensors with an elastic material. In demonstration experiments, they developed grippers that can adapt their shape and perform intricate tasks, like accurately measuring volunteers' heart rates or safely handling delicate objects, such as a taco.

The inventors highlight the potential of this technology in creating synthetic hands that replicate human-like grasping capabilities. This would allow robots to apply force in a controlled and precise manner.

Robots equipped with this advanced skin could perform tasks such as precisely measuring a patient's heart rate in hospitals or administering massages. As populations age, the demand for robot-assisted care, like that provided by robot nurses, is expected to grow significantly, as the experts note.

Furthermore, robots using the new electronic skin technology could play a critical role in emergency response, assisting disaster victims by searching through debris or performing life-preserving procedures, such as CPR.

For example, a domestic robot tasked with handing over a glass of water would be able to do so without dropping or crushing it, thanks to its refined sense of touch and force application.