Researchers from the University of Uppsala and the Caroline Institute in Sweden have recently developed a groundbreaking technology known as Roboruk, which has the ability to feel objects with the same accuracy as a human being. This development has opened up new opportunities for creating tactile prostheses and improving robotics.
The system, created by the researchers, can identify the type of object as quickly as a person with a blindfold simply by touching it, such as distinguishing between a tennis ball and an apple. Associate Professor Zhibin Zhang from the Department of Electrical Engineering at Uppsala University stated, “Our system is able to identify the type of object as quickly as a person with a blindfold simply by determining by touch, for example, a tennis ball or apple.”
This innovative technology replicates the reaction of the human nervous system to touch by using electrical impulses to process tactile information. Zhang further explains, “With this technology, a prosthetic hand will be felt as part of the user’s body.”
The prosthesis comprises three main components: electronic skin (E-Skin) with pressure sensors, a set of artificial neurons, and a processor that processes signals and identifies objects. While the system theoretically has the capacity to learn to recognize an unlimited number of objects, tests were conducted using 22 different objects and 16 surfaces.
Professor A. Chen, who led the study, announced plans to enhance the system to include the ability to sense pain and heat, as well as determine the material of the object, such as wood or metal. This advancement in reverse tactile communication will make interactions between humans and robots or prostheses safer and more natural, enabling prosthetics to manipulate objects with the same dexterity as a human hand.
Chen also shared, “Human skin contains millions of receptors. While modern E-Skin technologies cannot yet replicate this complexity, our technology brings us closer to achieving this goal, with plans to create artificial skin for entire robots.”
Besides applications in robotics, this technology can have significant impacts in the field of medicine. It can be utilized to monitor movement dysfunctions caused by diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, as well as aid patients in recovering lost functions post-stroke