U.S. agency creating robot skin fit for a human

China View
Posted: 2008-01-10 18:42:58

Researchers have been hard at work creating skin for robots that is soft and sensitive to pain and pressure. Now, scientists at America's Defense Advanced Research Defense Agency (DARPA) are making sure that human beings will also have sensitive artificial skin.

    In 2005, Goddard technologist Vladimir Lumelsky worked on sensor embedded skin coverings for robots. This high-tech skin is essential for robots doing space exploration, because humans and robots will work together under different conditions.

    Takao Someya led a group of University of Tokyo researchers that same year in creating a robotic skin consisting of pressure-sensing and temperature-sensing networks laminated together. The resulting artificial skin can detect both properties simultaneously.

    The transistors used in the circuits and the semiconductors both use "organic" materials based on chains of carbon atoms, so maybe robots will "feel" a little bit more human.

    Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes can make the surface of prosthetic devices feel like the the covering you were born with. A nanotube is delicately balanced on top of gold filaments, and threaded through a rubbery polymer.

    The polymer/nanotube skin will transfer heat from the surface to the sensor network below as quickly as your skin communicates this information. The nanotubes enhance the piezoelectric effect inherent in the polymer. The sensors can then generate a signal to the brain.