The 3D-Printed E-Skin Giving Prosthetics a Sense of Touch
Over the years, advanced prosthetic limbs have steadily improved in strength, dexterity, and control. But one capability has proved to be difficult to reproduce: the sense of touch. Without tactile feedback, users have to rely almost entirely on sight to judge how firmly they are gripping an object or whether it is slipping from their grasp. Researchers at Washington State University believe they have taken an important step toward changing that with a customizable electronic skin that combines high-resolution pressure and temperature sensing.
The team's modular sensing system can detect pressure and temperature with roughly ten times the spatial resolution of commercial glove-based sensors. Just as importantly, it can be custom-built to match the unique shape of an individual's prosthetic without sacrificing sensing performance.
For the most part, existing electronic skins can offer either good sensing performance or a custom fit, but not both. High-density sensing arrays are typically manufactured...
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