They develop an elastic electronic skin that allows robots to respond to touch

The electronics of the future could increasingly resemble human skin. A research team from the University of Turku, in Finland, has taken an important step in that direction by developing a new method for manufacturing flexible and sustainable electronic materials.

Inspired by natural structures like tree leaves, scientists created devices capable of bending, rolling, and adapting to curved surfaces, opening the door to a range of applications from smartphones to advanced medical prosthetics.

The group, led by Vipul Sharma, assistant professor of materials engineering, set out to design materials that, in addition to being flexible, were environmentally friendly. Sharma explained in a statement: “Our goal is to achieve high efficiency, but we only use environmentally friendly materials. We have developed flexible electronic materials that are elastic, breathable, conductive and transparent. That's why they are better than other similar materials”.

The advances seek to equip prosthetics with sensory capabilities similar to human skin, such as pressure and temperature.

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First applications: electronic skin for robots

To demonstrate the potential of the material, researchers developed an electronic skin that they attached to a robotic hand. The integrated pressure sensors allowed the robot to detect touch and respond to external stimuli, simulating one of the most important sensory functions of human skin.

This advance represents a first step towards the development of advanced prosthetics and more natural man-machine interfaces. In the future, this type of electronic skin could provide prosthetics with the ability to perceive pressure, temperature, and humidity, bringing the experience of artificial limb users closer to natural sensory function.

Soft Robotics and Applications in Critical Sectors

The integration of flexible electronics is also driving the advancement of soft robotics, a field focused on creating machines capable of interacting safely with humans and adapting to complex environments. These technologies have high potential in areas such as healthcare, industry and rescue operations. Soft robotics with flexible electronics is emerging as a solution for safe tasks in hospitals, factories and rescues. (Illustrative Image Infobae)

A soft robot could, for example, help lift patients in hospitals, manipulate delicate objects in factories, or move through confined spaces in underground rescue missions. Uses are also being explored in dangerous environments, such as nuclear power plants or even in space applications. According to Anastasia Koivikko, Assistant Professor of Automation Engineering, "it is important that robots designed to help patients are flexible so that they feel comfortable and function safely."

Sustainability and Biomass: The Future of Electronics

The Finnish team is also looking to reduce the environmental footprint of robotic systems. To this end, they are replacing traditional components based on silicone with more ecological alternatives, taking advantage of the biomass derived from Finnish wood. “Forests are the oil of Finland. No other country in Europe has similar access to wood. Currently, many of the materials used in electronics come from China. Finnish biomass has great potential in the international market," says Sharma. The development is betting on ecological materials, using Finnish wood biomass to reduce the environmental impact.

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This approach not only promotes sustainability, but also decreases the dependence on imported materials and fosters the local economy. Current soft robots can operate with compressed air, electricity, light, or fluids, allowing them to perform flexible and adaptive movements, such as bending, expanding, or traversing narrow spaces. Furthermore, agricultural applications are being investigated, such as the automatic harvesting of ripe fruits and berries, and in hazardous environments for humans.