Researchers create robot skin that can change shape on its own

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American scientists have developed a material that can be used for ‘soft robots’ that can change their shape on their own. This robot skin can be made in different shapes and can be used for medical applications.

The material was developed by the Wyss Institute, which is affiliated with the prestigious Harvard University. These are so-called Smart Thermally Actuating Textiles, or STATs. This is a soft piece of material that is filled with a liquid that the researchers call Novec 7000, but don’t specify further. The liquid allows the robot skin to change shape and that works with a phase change in which the liquid evaporates.

As the liquid evaporates through an increase in temperature, the material expands, causing it to change shape. According to the researchers, the size of the STATs can expand by up to a hundred times, eventually giving them the pressure of a typical inflated football. It is also easy to manufacture, which means that it can be made quickly in large numbers and different shapes.

The temperature change in the material is brought about via silver wires that are controlled via electrical signals and thus become warm. Sensors are built in so that a robot that uses the STATs can independently regulate the temperature and thus the shape of the ‘skin’.

According to the researchers, there are applications in robotics, where so-called soft robots can be made with the material. Specifically, they currently see applications for rehabilitation therapy for muscle problems. Applying pressure would allow muscles and nerves to regenerate after trauma, which could aid in relearning to walk. Muscle stimulation through physical pressure could also help in bed-bound patients.

It is not clear when there will be commercial, medical applications for the robot skin. For the time being, the scientists have explained their work in the journal Advanced Materials Technologies, and further development is needed to arrive at a product. Incidentally, research has been carried out for years into artificial skins for robots.

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