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Human skin in robots, what does it consist of

Scientists develop human skin to put it on robots (photo: Exponential Confirming)
Scientists develop human skin to put it on robots (photo: Exponential Confirming)

Although it seems like something out of an android and science fiction movie, it is a fact that the robotics sector is developing devices covered with what would be human skin.

It should be remembered that there are already androids with a human appearance that have been built in their outer structure with materials that resemble human skin such as silicone or silicon skin, as in the case of the “Sophia” robot.

And it is that one of the most influential magazines in the field of technology and robotics called “Science Robotics” has launched a special on the use of human skin and textures similar to is in the development of robotic devices.

As it was mentioned already, Currently, robots are covered in silicon skin and other synthetic materials that look similar to human skin. But in this case, real human skin would be developing and added to these artifacts so they can bend, stretch, and even feel like a person would.

With these innovations in robotics, people could come to think of an “automaton being” that looks exactly like a human being, like in the movie “Ex-Machine”. But the reality is that this development is to be applied to intelligent prostheses, so that they can be directly implanted in people who were born without one of their limbs such as legs, arms or fingers, or who have lost them in an accident.

Finally, the idea of ​​these projects is that sensations can be perceived through the coating of these prostheses, which are ideal for people who have had to undergo some type of amputation.

The neuroengineer and researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Luke Osborn, points out that “we explore how to connect humans with machines, in order to restore some function or improve someone’s task. For example, with prostheses that connect to a human being.”

With the above, it is necessary to emphasize that today there are already robotic prostheses that are connected to the human brain so that they can receive signals and movement orders.

However, now the next step is that these artifacts can not only move, but also feel, giving back to the person the limb that for some unfortunate reason he lost.

Per hour the biggest challenge with this innovation is to connect this human skin with brain neurons so that it can function as a Real Dermis, the scientist Luke Osborn indicates that although advances never seen before in this discipline are being presented, there is still much to discover since it is not an easy task because the skin has thousands of receptors in its different layers that are responsible for granting the sense of touch, thus being able to feel temperature, vibration, pressure or pain.

The neuroengineer concludes by stating that “We are in an exciting time in which many new things are being done with artificial skins to make them better, more intelligent and more functional. Using the capabilities of the electronic skins themselves to make robots more intelligent.

All this type of developments in robotics at the service of medicine and improvement of the quality of life of people, implies that the human society every day gets closer to the possibility of improving its capacities through technology. Like the commonly called “cyborgs” which are people who seek to increase their mental and physical abilities through artifacts.

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