Washington DC [US], August 21 (HBTV): Researchers have developed a revolutionary robotic skin that brings machines closer to human-like touch. Made from a flexible, low-cost gel material, the innovation transforms the entire surface of a robotic hand into a sensitive, intelligent sensor.

Unlike traditional robotic skins that rely on multiple embedded sensors, this material can detect pressure, temperature, pain, and even distinguish multiple contact points at once. The researchers from the University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL) created the flexible, conductive skin, which can be melted down and reshaped into a wide range of complex forms.

The technology enables robots to sense and process various physical inputs, allowing more meaningful interaction with their surroundings. Unlike existing solutions, where different sensors are required for pressure, heat or pain, the Cambridge-UCL design makes the entire surface a sensor, functioning more like human skin.

While not yet as sensitive as human skin, the robotic material can detect signals from over 860,000 microscopic pathways. This allows it to distinguish between different types of touch and pressure — such as a finger tap, hot or cold surfaces, cuts or punctures, and multiple simultaneous points of contact — all within a single material.

The team used physical testing combined with machine learning techniques to help the robotic skin ‘learn’ which pathways are most important, improving its efficiency in sensing different types of contact.

Potential applications include humanoid robots and advanced prosthetics, where realistic touch is critical. Researchers also highlighted its possible use in fields such as automotive manufacturing and disaster relief.

Electronic skins work by converting physical information like pressure or temperature into electronic signals. In most cases, different types of sensors are embedded in flexible materials, but these can interfere with each other and are prone to damage.

‘Having different sensors for different types of touch leads to materials that are complex to make,’ said lead author Dr David Hardman from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.‘We wanted to develop a solution that can detect multiple types of touch at once, but in a single material,’ he explained.‘At the same time, we need something that’s cheap and durable, so that it’s suitable for widespread use,’ added co-author Dr Thomas George Thuruthel from UCL.

The researchers aim to improve the material’s durability and carry out further testing on real-world robotic tasks. Their findings were published in Science Robotics.

(ANI)