[Integrated] New type of electronic robot gloves: Tactile is more sensitive than human

Researchers at the University of Glasgow have developed electronic robot gloves that are more sensitive to touch than human hands, and it is self-powered.

New Electronic Robot Gloves: Tactile is More Sensitive than Human

According to foreign media reports, researchers at the University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom have developed electronic robot gloves that are more sensitive to touch than human hands, and it is self-powered. Their results were published Thursday in the famous journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Ravinder Dahiya, a University of Glasgow professor, said that this sensor is the first of its kind. With this sensor, it is possible to create a lighter, more prosthetic limb and a softer and more natural robot with softer skin. The robot's skin is made of a single layer of monolayer graphene. Basically, it is itself a tactile sensor. Each square centimeter of this skin requires 20 nanowatts of electric drive. To this end, Professor Dahiya turned his gaze to the sun:

"Even 98% of the light can reach this solar cell," he said, pointing to the solar panel beneath the transparent graphene skin. "The electrical energy it generates is used to create a sense of touch."

Prof. Dahiya said: "It's touch is an order of magnitude better than human skin."

Their research results are the first step towards a softer robot and a more sensitive touch screen sensor. However, Professor Dahiya said that this is not all.

Professor Dahiya said that this transparent layer of spin-coated graphene can also be sewn into the clothes, allowing comfortable yoga pants to become fashionable and highly accurate sweat sensors. It can also be used on health equipment, such as powering a blood glucose monitor.

Silicon and graphene used in this new type of robotic skin are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective. Professor Dahiya is using it to develop a low-cost 3D print hand. In addition to manpower costs, the cost of this prosthetic hand is approximately $350. This is tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than the most advanced battery-powered hands on the market.

Prof. Dahiya hopes that with his self-powered and sensitive prosthetic limbs, he can amputate his limbs without having to carry extra batteries. Moreover, robots covered with sensitive skin of graphene can easily pick up or throw away objects.