Sensitive synthetic skin allows robots to feel their own body and environment, a crucial ability to be in close contact with people. Inspired by human skin, a team from the Technical University of Munich has developed a system that combines artificial skin with control algorithms and is used to create the first autonomous humanoid robot with full body artificial skin.
Each cell is equipped with a microprocessor and sensors to detect contact, acceleration, proximity and temperature. With such an artificial skin, robots can perceive their environment in much more detail and with more sensitivity. This does not help them to move more safely and work near people.