Scientists Use Graphene To Enable 'Electronic Skin' To Feel

There continue to be many impressive advancements in graphene technology and just recently scientists announced that they have been able to use the material in order to empower 'electronic skin' to feel.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow say that they have developed a unique method for using graphene in order to power an experimental type of skin.

They hope that eventually this technology might be able to help develop prosthetic limbs that will have a sense of touch. It's also been suggested that this sort of technology might help robots enhance their performance, by enabling the touch sensitivity to allow them to detect potential dangers in their environment.

Their findings have been published in the journal Advanced Functional Materials.

Giving Robots A Sense Of Touch

It's alleged that the self-powered robotic mitt that the scientists created, is more sensitive to touch than the human hand. The new sensor is said to be the very first of its kind and thanks to the graphene it's a more lightweight option for consumers who need prosthetic limbs.

The new bot skin that they created is made from a single atomic layer of graphene and it needs 20 nanowatts of power for each square centimeter in order for it to function. It uses solar power in order to get the power that it needs.

The researchers behind the design say that the electronic skin is one order of magnitude better than human skin.

Graphene has made its way into bike helmets, tires, clothing, phone cases, and plenty more. It's truly a remarkable product that can revolutionize the way that we live because of the seemingly never-ending possibilities of what this material can be used for. There is currently millions of dollars being pumped into graphene research around the world and it's exciting to see the new applications that scientists have been researching and proposing to bring to the market.

The team in Glasgow isn't the only one in the world that might be investigating how to develop flexible synthetic skin like this, but they are alleged to be the first ones to use graphene in order to generate electricity with solar power in order for it to work.

Next up, the researchers say that they want to try and use the same technology in order to power motors needed to drive a prosthetic hand. If successful, they say that this would allow for the creation of an entirely energy-autonomous prosthetic limb.

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Pics:
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Bendable Electronics and Sensing Technologies (BEST) Group at The University of Glasgow

Source:
http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/scientists-use-graphene-to-power-electronic-skin-that-can-feel-1672532
https://www.crazyengineers.com/news/this-solar-powered-robot-skin-has-higher-sensitivity-than-human-hand.95593/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/hilarybrueck/2017/03/22/solarrobotskin/#2145616c3484
https://steemit.com/science/@doitvoluntarily/researchers-uncover-faster-way-to-make-graphene
https://steemit.com/science/@doitvoluntarily/graphene-makes-its-way-to-the-runway
https://steemit.com/technology/@doitvoluntarily/graphene-makes-its-way-to-motorcycle-helmets