A Solar Robot Skin More Sensitive Than Human Hands?

This electronic robot skin was created by a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow.

Robots are not just a fantasy anymore. More and more scientists are trying to design the perfect robot. The one that is both easy to use and efficient. As such, a new robot skin that is powered by the sun has been designed.

This electronic robot skin was created by a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow. They were able to design a self-powered robotic mitt. This robot skin is much more sensitive than a human hand. Professor Ravinder Dahiya is one of the engineers that developed the device. He says that this robot skin is the first of its kind.

The robotic mitt is a great step towards better prosthetic limbs for people. Due to the fact that it is much more sensitive is going to help people feel more than a normal “robotic hand” would. Researchers mentioned that this robot skin is actually a touch sensor. It is made from a single atomic layer of graphene.

In order to make it even better, researchers used solar power to make it work. The robotic skin needs 20 nanowatts of power for every square centimeter. The team of engineers managed to design the touch sensor in such a way as to make it self-powered. So as it takes energy from the sun.

“Whatever light is available, 98 percent is going and hitting the solar cell, it is generating power that can be used to get the sensitivity, the tactile feeling,” mentioned Prof. Ravinder Dahiya.

All the information and feature about this robot were published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials. The researchers mentioned that this robot skin can be used for many things. One of them is to create better prosthetics, but that is not all. The touch sensor can be used for more responsive touch screens.

Based on the fact that it is so slim and transparent is can be used for clothes or for health care devices. The robot skin is also cost efficient. The fact that it can be powered by the sun also makes it a solution for places where there is no electricity.

The team of researchers announced that they want to continue their work. Prof. Dahiya is making a 3-D printed prosthetic hand for this skin. The cost of the prosthetic is around $350. This price is a lot smaller than the one people have to pay for the normal battery-powered prosthetic hands.

Image source: Flickr

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Roxanne Briean

I am a geek, a gamer and a writer. I have always been fascinated with the online community. At the moment I work as a full-time writer and study interior design. When I'm not scouring the net in search of interesting new gadgets and software I spend my time in MOBAs or drawing.