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Will the scenario in HBO's Western World fantasy film come true?

The incredible breakthroughs in artificial intelligence technology make a future where human-like robots are not far away. However, although Apple's SIRI is able to tell you a joke, robots are quite clumsy. That is why it is necessary to have a field of study to make robots more "soft".

This hand - called Gentle Bot (Gentle Robot).

Cornell scientists have released an article earlier this week about the progress in creating a machine hand that can imitate human touch. This hand - known as Gentle Bot , can also be found in three tomatoes, the most ripe fruit.

The emergence of soft techniques (soft lithography) and 3D printing technology in the last 20 years has allowed robot researchers to easily build and develop sensors that can integrate them on notes. "gentle" robot . Light waveguides are used to sense light changes, eliminating the need to use heavy metals to conduct electricity when creating a hand. Now they only need materials that can lead light.

Gentle Bot uses a human hand-shaped bubble built with waveguides. Scientific magazine Seeker explained its identification process:

Gentle Bot uses a human hand-shaped bubble built with waveguides.

Light wave ducts contain many LED bulbs equipped with five inflatable fingers, allowing them to "sense" the surrounding objects. When these fingers "touch" the object, even if it is only lightly touched, it will detect the change in the amount of light that is transmitted into the device. These changes are measured by photodiode (Photodiode) - a type of semiconductor diode that converts photons into electrical charges according to the photoelectric effect.

Zhao Chan Huy, the project leader shared with NPR:

"Our human hands are very soft with many sensors on the surface above and deep inside it," he said. "The science that studies that" softness "on robots is an opportunity to bring a more human-like machine hand."

Robotic hands feel.

As the test of tomatoes proves, this technology will have many applications in manufacturing and labor. A few types of robot "hands" are ready to be put into operation to help sort out, piles of fragile furniture packages. However, in the long run, they want to be able to create prosthetic parts that can be connected to the brain through it.

Researchers at Cornell University also hope to integrate their technology with light wave ducts to create biological robots that will be used for future space exploration.

"Soft robot" still has a long way to go. The other hand may know which ripe tomatoes are ripe, but it still cannot determine what is the real plant, made of acrylic and plastic fruit. Watching the Westworld series on HBO channel is far from being realized.