Research engineers at the University of Minnesota have developed a revolutionary process for 3D printing human skin that can give robots the ability to feel tactilely. The discovery is also an important step in growing real human skin.
The research was published in the scientific journal Advanced Materials. “This stretchable electronic fabric we have developed has many practical applications,” said Michael McAlpin, associate professor at the University of Minnesota and lead researcher. Such bionic skin on surgical robots will enable surgeons to practice in invasive surgeries. Also, with the help of such skin, robots will be able to honor objects and the environment.
“This is a completely new approach to 3D printing,” McAlpin said. “We have a multifunction printer that can print multiple layers of leather to make it more flexible. This could lead science to monitor health conditions before harvesting energy for chemical sensing,”the scientist said.
Svetlana Slavyanskaya