
via Phys.org
A new type of energy-generating synthetic skin could create more affordable prosthetic limbs and robots capable of mimicking the sense of touch, scientists say.
In an early-view paper published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Robotics, researchers from the University of Glasgow describe how a robotic hand wrapped in their flexible solar skin is capable of interacting with objects without using dedicated and expensive touch sensors.
Instead, the skin puts the array of miniaturised solar cells integrated on its soft polymer surface to a clever dual use. The cells generate enough energy to power the micro-actuators which control the hand’s movements, but they also provide the hand with its unique sense of ‘touch’ by measuring the variations in the solar cells’ output.
As objects get closer to the surface of a cell, they reduce the amount of light which reaches it. The amount of power the cell generates drops as the light gets dimmer, eventually reaching zero when an object touches and covers it. By making clever interpretations of the levels of power produced in each cell, the skin is capable of detecting the shape of an incoming object.
A second set of simple LEDs, integrated between the solar cells in the skin, transmit infra-red light towards objects. By measuring the time the light takes to reflect from the object, the skin can sense the distance between the object and the hand.
Combining the information collected from the solar cells and LEDs allows the skin’s processor to deduce an object’s proximity, location, and edges, replicating many of the parameters measured by more traditional touch sensors. Together, the data allows the hand to grasp objects like rubber balls placed in front of it.
It’s the latest development in electronic skin from the University of Glasgow’s Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group, led by Professor Ravinder Dahiya.
Professor Dahiya, of the University’s James Watt School of Engineering, said: “Touch-sensitive electronic skin has found numerous experimental applications in prosthetics and robotics in recent years, but our project is the first energy-generating e-skin capable of offering touch feedback without using dedicated touch sensors.
“That lack of sensors means the skin requires no conventional power source to work, unlike other equivalent devices which include touch sensors. In fact, the skin itself is the source of energy, capable of powering the hand and devices attached to it. The generated power can be stored in devices such as flexible supercapacitors we’ve developed to work alongside the skin, so it doesn’t have to be constantly exposed to the sun in order to work.
“It’s one step closer to a completely self-powered prosthetic wrapped in flexible skin made from relatively inexpensive components. The sensing capabilities built into the skin could even lead to skin that can ‘see’ – further refinements could help the skin identify approaching objects even before they make contact.”
“We’ve also experimented with adding the hand to the end of a robot arm, similar to the ones found in places like car manufacturing facilities. The skin’s sensors are capable of stopping the arm’s motion when it senses an unexpected object, which we believe could help prevent future industrial accidents.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Synthetic skin
- Artificial And Unreasonable Veil of Legal Protection- A Critic of Bombay High Court's POCSO Judgmenton January 26, 2021 at 1:29 am
My brother, after punching my stomach. In a cruel irony, the Bombay High Court chose the National Girl Child Day to deliver an ...
- Scientists can hack your nerves so artificial limbs feel lighteron January 25, 2021 at 10:00 pm
Weight is an objective measurement. If you want an object to weigh less, you need to construct it from fewer, lighter materials. It’s one of many reasons why MacBooks are made of lighter aluminum ...
- ITC’s Dermafique brings Expert Skin Care at the comfort of your homeson January 22, 2021 at 3:31 am
ITC’s leading skincare brand, Dermafique, announced the launch of its first Bio-Cellulose Face Masques. Co-designed by Dermatologists, the Dermafique Bio Cellulose Face Masques are ...
- Skin Care Products Market Growth Report | Industry Trends Analysis, Size, Share, Opportunities & Global Forecast, 2020-2027on January 21, 2021 at 11:46 pm
Jan (Market Insight Reports) -- The GMI Research forecasts that the skin care products market is witnessing an upsurge in demand during the forecast period. This is mainly due to the constantly ...
- WandaVision’s Paul Bettany reveals ‘brutal and damaging’ transformation process left skin ‘in tatters’on January 20, 2021 at 8:46 am
ACTOR Paul Bettany is reluctant to complain about his job but when pressed, revealed his skin was left “in tatters” while filming WandaVision. WandaVision is the first of the Marvel ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Synthetic skin
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Artificial skin
- Permanent Artificial Skin Market Share Worldwide Industry Growth, Size, Statistics, Industry Key Features, Opportunities & Forecasts up to 2026on January 7, 2021 at 9:45 pm
Jan 08, 2021 (The Expresswire) -- The Permanent Artificial Skin market report provides a detailed analysis of global market size, regional and country-level market size, segmentation market growth ...
- Researchers developed soft, self-healing skin for robotson January 6, 2021 at 4:01 pm
is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company. Powered by its own proprietary technology, Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture and entertainment content for its ...
- Artificial skin: One more time, with feelingon January 5, 2021 at 4:00 pm
This research dovetails with Bao’s efforts to create artificial skin that can restore feeling to people with prosthetic limbs, which was profiled recently in the "All Tech Considered" segment on NPR’s ...
- Investors will continue to bet on sunrise sectors through 2021 and beyondon December 30, 2020 at 9:54 pm
The ultra-light yet ultra-strong material, Graphene is already widely used in products as disparate as bulletproof vests and artificial skin. Many more materials that respond to external stimuli ...
- Artificial Skin Lets Robots Feelon December 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm
BioTac Artificial Skin Technology is sure to be a storm with Robotics Designers. Giving them the opportunity to add a third sense to there robotic marvels. Now they can have the sense of touch to ...