A new potential stretchy, light up 'skin' for robots. Creating a material that has as much stretch as human skins has been difficult, but researchers have recently created an electroluminescent skins that can stretch to 6 time its size. New new materials has many potential applications. (via Chris Larson & Cornell University)
Everyday it seems that futuristic science projects are making the potential of consumer-grade robotics a reality. The latest creation could be on our shelves in no time; created by Cornell University graduate students and Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Rob Shepherd. Their stretchable, HLEC (hyper-elastic light-emitting capacitor) ‘skin’ could probe to me the base material of everything from soft robots to wearable devices. It could also become the basis of a new uniform for the US Army…
This research was funded, in part, by the Army Research Office and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The thought was that their new invention would perhaps be able to provide some type of color changing camouflage, or perhaps serve in new medical equipment. For instance, Shepherd noted that their new light-emitting skin could provide a visible measure of a patient’s temperature, mood, or physical condition. While their tests don’t seem to change color yet, they researchers say that it would certainly be possible in future prototyping.
For now, their new light-emitting skin is more stretchy than anything else with the ability to stretch over 6 times it’s original size while still functioning. You can see a video demo of their invention in practice here: http://www.cornell.edu/video/stretchable-electroluminescent-skin-demo.
This strange and exciting new ability is due to their HLECs which are made up of hydrogel electrode layers placed and insulated between an elastomer sheet. As the sheet is stretched, it changes the luminescence and electrical capacity. In this way, the ‘pixels’ within the skin seems to change color slightly as they change shape and size. They tested this new potential robot skin in a simple walking robot to demonstrate its potential.
Their research is published in the March 2016 Science journal. While the new material is very cool and interesting, it still isn’t sure how this will be applied and used, but the researchers have many ideas. One very possible market, notes Shepherd, is the wearable technology market. He thinks that the future of wearables could benefit from a form-fitting, stretchy material that is able to light up to convey information. Perhaps this would be a cooler version of high-tech watches and bracelets that give phone notifications?
They also would love for this material to become the new skin for robots of the future, who can convey their emotions to humans via color changes in their skin. While this seems a bit too futuristic, it does seem plausible that manufacturers, tinkerers, and inventors will find some unexpected, novel way to use this new material. Until then, we’ll continue to keep a pulse on the quickly changing landscape of between robotics and it’s integration into our everyday lives.
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