Bringing a human touch to wearable tech with skin-like sensors

Skin-like sensors bring a human touch to wearable tech

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Human skin can stretch about 50 per cent, but our AISkin can stretch up to 400 per cent of its length without breaking. (Video: Daria Perevezentsev)

Researchers have developed a super-stretchy, transparent and self-powering sensor that records the complex sensations of human skin
Dubbed artificial ionic skin — or AISkin for short — the researchers believe the innovative properties of AISkin could lead to future advancements in wearable electronics, personal health care and robotics.
“Since it’s hydrogel, it’s inexpensive and biocompatible — you can put it on the skin without any toxic effects. It’s also very adhesive, and it doesn’t fall off, so there are so many avenues for this material,”
When the AISkin is subjected to strain, humidity or changes in temperature, it generates controlled ion movements across the sensing junction, which can be measured as electrical signals such as voltage or current.
“If you look at human skin, how we sense heat or pressure, our neural cells transmit information through ions — it’s really not so different from our artificial skin,” says Liu.
“Our human skin can stretch about 50 per cent, but our AISkin can stretch up to 400 per cent of its length without breaking,”
Another application is in soft robotics — flexible bots made completely out of polymers. An example is soft robotic grippers used in factories to handle delicate objects such as light bulbs or food.
“If we further advance this research, this could be something we put on like a ‘smart bandage,’” says Liu. “Wound healing requires breathability, moisture balance – ionic skin feels like the natural next step.”

The Complete Story: Skin-like sensors bring a human touch to wearable tech

University of Toronto

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