RMIT scientists develop mechanical skin with temperature and pain sensors

Researchers at RMIT University have developed electronic skin

Scientists at RMIT in Melbourne have succeeded in creating a prototype for mechanical skin. It perceives both temperature and pressure - quasi pain in technical form. A helpful invention for the creation of new prostheses.

Technical replicas of skin are already capable of feeling touches. This makes them extremely useful for prostheses or robots that are supposed to react human-like. They have not yet been ready to feel burns, bumps and bruises. This is precisely what scientists at the RMIT University of Melbourne are working on. In their project to create artificial skin, they have come to the point where sensors provide almost immediate feedback when pressure or temperatures occur at which people would feel pain.

Scientists have developed electronic artificial skin

The prototype was developed as a wearable. Its electronics were therefore developed as an extremely thin layer that has pressure and temperature sensors. The aim was to recreate the neurons, neural pathways and receptors of the human nervous system. The cells are so sensitive that they can distinguish between a gentle beep and a stronger burst.

Nevertheless, the invention is still very far from achieving product maturity. Especially in the field of prosthesis development, the use cases are clear. Paralyzed people in particular could benefit from the new technology. With robots, however, the technology is simply developed from the scientific ambition to replicate humans in robot form as well as possible.

It is likely that robot sensors will be tailored to specific use cases in which they are supposed to react to certain influences that are not perceptible to us humans.