Scientists have developed artificial skin that feels like real leather

Like our senses in hearing and sight, touch (sensation when touched) plays an important role in how people perceive and interact with the world around them.

Medical efforts have been made to make artificial skin for the restoration of lost body parts of war or accident victims. However, the artificial skin still can not bring the natural feeling, many uses like real skin in humans.

In 2014, Korean scientists have achieved the invention of artificial leather capable of simulating human tactile. With this invention, artificial skin will help patients feel the heat and feel the surface of an object.

Most recently, however, Swiss scientists have taken a further step forward in this area.

The new skin type is even more optimal than the 2014 artificial skin type of Korean scientists.

Still in the field of tactile feedback, researchers at two universities in Switzerland have worked together to develop an artificial skin that has the flexibility and flexibility to create the most realistic touch. ever . This invention has significant applications in the field of health and virtual reality.

Soft actuators and sensor systems are two new steps forward in this research by Swiss scientists. Made of haptics sandwiched between silicone layers, the new skin can be extended to four times its original length. Combined with a flexible actuator, it can easily precisely cover objects of different sizes.

In addition, the sensor system will constantly measure the deformation of the skin, offering adjustments to the haptic feedback in a short time to create the most realistic touch possible.

Artificial leather contains pneumatic actuators that form an air-inflated membrane. The actuators can be adjusted to different pressures and frequencies (up to 100 Hz or 100 pulses per second). The skin will vibrate due to the rapid swelling and deflating mechanism of this membrane.

A sensor layer on top of the membrane will contain soft electrodes made from a solid-liquid gallium mixture. These electrodes continuously measure skin deformation and send data to the microcontroller, using the same feedback to correct senses before transmitting to the wearer's cognitive brain.

The level of sensation of this skin type has almost reached the level of sensitivity like real skin in humans.

Currently, scientists have been testing new types of artificial skin on human fingers. This technology will be further improved in the near future according to the research project leader:

" The next step will be to develop a prototype that can be fully utilized for medical and virtual reality rehabilitation. The prototype will also be tested in neuroscience studies, where it has can be used to stimulate reactions in the human body ".

1. Artificial leather is manufactured in a fully automated process
2. Artificial skin changes color like chameleon