Leather for robots

Japanese researchers have created a special 'skin' rubber for the robot, which allows the robot to feel pressure and temperature just like humans.

According to researchers at the University of Tokyo, the rubber can be very elastic, conductive and conducive to heat. It is made of finely divided carbon nanotubes (which can be replaced by carbon-carbon molecules) mixed with ionic liquids and rubber.

This material can be stretched 38% without changing the conductivity and thermal conductivity

This combination makes them flexible and flexible like rubber, but the electrical conductivity and thermal conductivity are 570 times higher than that of rubber mixed with carbon.

If used to make an elastic integrated circuit (IC), this material can stretch 1.7 times the original size and can be curved onto a curved surface without affecting the mechanical properties as well as the elasticity. its lead.

The first application of this new material is artificial leather for the robot. It can also be used on the steering wheel to analyze the driver's sweat, body temperature, etc. to assess their condition at the time of driving. It is also possible to place it on the mattress of a paralyzed patient to supervise certain parts of the patient's body, thus minimizing the condition of the sores.