Robots could soon be covered in human-like synthetic skin, similar to the cyborg assassins in the Terminator series, after researchers at Stanford University developed a surreal, self-repairing material.
Researchers have been researching and developing compelling skin materials for robots for years, with Stanford University professor Jhennan Bao touting the first multi-layered self-healing synthetic electronic skin in 2012.
More than a decade later, Bao and colleagues have pushed their research further into the future. Layers of artificial skin can now self-aware and align with each other when injured, and at the same time maintain skin function while healing.
“We have achieved what appears to be the first demonstration of a multi-layer thin film sensor that automatically repositions itself during healing,” said Dr. Christopher B. Cooper of Stanford University. A student and study co-author, he told SWNS.
“This is an important step in mimicking human skin. Human skin has multiple layers, all of which are reconstructed correctly during the healing process.”
Wearing real-looking skin on robots with artificial intelligence could be a future way for humans to feel more comfortable with such technology, according to SWNS. The material resembles the cyborg character from actor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s “Terminator,” boasting a robotic endoskeleton covered in “living tissue.”
Similar to human skin, the material produced by the Stanford University researchers can sense thermal, mechanical, or electrical changes in its surroundings. The current prototype featured in the study was designed to sense pressure.
“It’s soft and stretchy, but when it’s pierced, sliced, or cut, it selectively repairs each layer and restores overall function. Just like real skin,” co-authors said. said Sam Root of
“One layer might sense pressure, another temperature, and yet another tension,” Root added.
Researchers have developed a silicone and polypropylene glycol material that can be stretched like human skin without tearing, and whose magnetic properties automatically align the skin.
The material softens when heated and returns to its original state. If the material is damaged, it can self-heal in just 24 hours when heated to 158°F, while the same repair process takes about a week at room temperature.
“Combined with magnetic field-guided navigation and induction heating, we may be able to build reconfigurable soft robots that can change shape on demand and sense their deformation,” said co-author Lenny Chao.
The researchers said they are now working on making the layers of the skin with different functions, such as the layer that senses temperature changes and the layer that senses pressure, as thin as possible.
The research comes amid the booming popularity of artificial intelligence, with millions of people flocking to create lifelike images generated by AI using the chatbot ChatGPT. I was.
Humanoid robots are also attracting attention in the technological race to build more powerful AI systems. A Texas-based company is working to develop “general-purpose robots” used to help with household chores, and an OpenAI-backed robotics startup is working to commercialize humanoid robots for the workplace. I’m in.
