Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have developed a new type of stretchable electronic skin that addresses a major challenge in this emerging technology. This electronic skin, featured in the latest issue of the journal "Materials," is highly elastic, providing robots and other devices with the softness and touch sensitivity similar to human skin, enabling them to perform tasks requiring high precision and control.
The electronic skin, like human skin, can stretch and bend to accommodate human movement. Regardless of the degree of stretching, the pressure response of this newly developed electronic skin remains constant, marking a significant achievement in this technology.
Electronic skin technology can sense pressure from touch, allowing connected machines to gauge the amount of force needed, such as when gripping a cup or interacting with humans. Traditional electronic skins, when stretched, can lead to errors in readings, affecting the sensor's ability to perceive pressure and potentially causing robots to exert excessive force.
Key to this research is an innovative hybrid responsive pressure sensor. Unlike traditional electronic skins that are either capacitive or resistive, this hybrid responsive electronic skin combines both pressure responses. Researchers refined these sensors, integrating them with stretchable insulating and electrode materials, leading to the innovation of electronic skin.
In demonstrations, researchers utilized the stretchability of the electronic skin to create inflatable probes and grippers that can change shape, performing various touch-sensitive tasks. For instance, a probe wrapped in inflatable skin accurately captures human pulse waves, while a gripper, when deflated, securely holds a toy without dropping it. The device can also apply appropriate pressure to delicate items like crispy corn rolls without crushing them.
Researchers anticipate that this stretchable electronic skin could become a key component of robotic hands, providing them with softness and sensitivity akin to human hands. Its applications extend to healthcare, where robots equipped with this skin can check a patient's pulse, assist with body wiping, or perform massages. Furthermore, it can be used in disaster relief efforts, enabling robots to search for and rescue victims in disaster scenarios like earthquakes or building collapses.
