British researchers have created a special type of synthetic skin that can actually feel the pain. Although this invention has no organic receptors for pain, it is as sensitive as typical human skin.
According to the researchers, this electronic skin can respond to stimuli with the help of robotics and prostheses.
Electronic skin can feel pain
(Photo: ThisisEngineering RAEng from Unsplash)
Researchers from the UK have developed a unique artificial skin or electronic skin that can feel pain like an ordinary human part.
Ordinary human skin is so sensitive that when you feel warm water, you immediately react to it. This is where the concept of pain comes in, and it is essential to alert your body that there is an incoming threat.
According to Business Insider’s report, researchers at the University of Glasgow have come up with the idea of creating printed, electronic skin that can feel the pain.
The team, spearheaded by Indian professor Ravinder Dahiya, published their study entitled “Printed Synaptic Transistors based Electronic Skin for Robots to Feel and Learn” on Science Robotics.
It is indeed a fascinating invention in the field of robotics, as researchers can create flexible technology. Glasglow’s Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) team has explored possible techniques to integrate sensitivity to a mechanical part.
A new type of electronic skin that can sense ‘pain’ could help create a new generation of smart robots and prosthetics.
The skin was developed by @RavinderSDahiya And his @BEST_UofG group at @UofGENineering†
Read the full story here 👉 https://t.co/EE94KiwgNH pic.twitter.com/LRlHUZZEsL
— University of Glasgow (@UofGlasgow) June 2, 2022
The researchers said that contact activates the e-skin’s pressure sensors. The data processing is done by sending the information from the sensors to the computer.
Processing a huge amount of information usually takes a lot of time. This is why an electronic skin perceives a delayed response.
To solve the problem, the Glasgow researchers have created a next-gen artificial skin that is not based on the typical nervous system of humans. After receiving an entry, the data will be processed immediately upon contact. In this way, the brain only receives the most important information.
Dahiya and his team used 168 synaptic transistors placed on top of the electronic skin. These transistors are connected to the skin sensors on the robotic hand.
Related article: Samsung’s expandable electronic skin has a built-in heart rate monitor that can be stretched up to 1000 times
The use of electronic skin
The same Business Insider report reveals that synthetic skin serves a different purpose. For example, the University of Utah researchers created the LUKE arm, a prosthetic human-like arm that can sense a human touch.
The scientists said this robotic arm relies on microelectrodes to establish communication when paired with a computer. At the time of writing, it can only maneuver in limited directors as it only has a few touch sensors.
Merging the e-skin into the LUKE arm can make a difference in the field of science. It could potentially be beneficial in other sectors, especially in the health sector.
Meanwhile, TechXplore reported that another team of researchers had developed a new prosthetic skin printing method that includes heat sensors. According to the group, the new invention offers more flexibility. It has even lower capacities than the usual silicon chips.
Marco Fattori, one of the authors of the study, said his team collaborated with other researchers from around the world to create an improved version of the artificial skin.
To view the study titled “A Printed Proximity Sensing Surface Based on Organic Pyroelectric Sensors and Organic Thin Film Transistor Electronics,” visit Nature.com for more information.
Also read: Electronic skin measures and displays vital signs: how soon will it be available?
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Written by Joseph Henry
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