Artificial skin gets a grip

In order for robots to replace or assist humans in dangerous, delicate, or remote situations, such as military reconnaissance, neural microsurgery, or extra-planetary probes, they must have sensory abilities similar to or superior to humans. The sense of touch has proved particularly difficult to duplicate through artificial sensors due to the harsh environments such artificial ’skins’ would encounter.

In a paper published today in the Institute of Physics’ Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering a US research team presents a new polymer-based sensor device that provides contact information while maintaining a flexible, robust unbroken surface.

The devices are made using a novel upside-down process whereby a polymer skin containing embedded metal-film wiring and sensors is built on a specially treated surface mould. The treated surface allows the completed devices to be easily released.

The device’s ability to grip objects and to construct an image of the object being gripped was tested. Jonathan Engel, a member of the research team from the University of Illinois, said: “Using this sensor device, a robot will be able to generate a map from the contact information provided, allowing it to identify slippage for delicate gripping, shape recognition, and so forth.”

These new sensor devices are robust enough for direct contact with everyday objects and contaminants without undue care. Engel said: “These sensors are a first step towards developing a multi-modal skin that can match the human skin and allow dramatic advances in areas such as robotically assisted medicine.”