I robot of the future they will not have a skin inspired by the human one, but much better, more like that of the octopus. This special type of skin lights up and changes color if it is touched, is elastic and can stretch up to 500%, it perceives touch and pressure. Not bad for a robot.
It is the first hi-tech skin inspired by the octopus, which could make the robots of the future camouflage. The skin of the future was featured in the magazine Science. This is the invention of the group coordinated by Robert Shepherd, of the American Cornell University, in collaboration with the Italian Institute of Technology (Iit) of Genoa.
"We were inspired by octopus skin and obtained a material with tactile and hyper-elastic properties, to the point that it can be deformed by 500% and return to its original appearance," he said. Barbara Mazzolai, Iit. For now, researchers have used robotic skin to coat the arm of an automaton.
"When the arm bends the material deforms and changes color, it also responds to tactile stimulation and allows you to controllare la pressure", continued the researcher. The hi-tech skin is made of silicone; inside there are hydrogel electrodes and particles of zinc, copper and manganese sulfide. The ultimate aim is to make the robots functional as regards the interaction with humans.
