Robots that we see in science fiction movies that react when touched or retract their hands when damaged are getting closer to reality. Chinese researchers have developed "smart skin" for robots, inspired by the working principle of the human nervous system.

Axar.az reports that the human nervous system, which has given computer scientists such a difficult task, actually operates with a continuous, noisy stream of signals. This newly developed artificial skin also processes and transmits information using electrical signals, just like human neurons.

Thanks to this technology, robots not only sense touch, but also can process this information much faster through energy-efficient artificial intelligence equipment.

The neural network in human skin has an extensive structure specialized for various sensations such as heat, cold, pressure and pain. When we touch an object, the signals first reach the spinal cord and undergo preliminary processing there before being transmitted to the brain. The "Neuromorphic Robotic E-Skin" developed by the researchers mimics this hierarchy. Pressure sensors embedded in the elastic polymer layer convert the physical impact they receive into short electrical impulses - "bursts of activity". These electrical signals work like a kind of barcode: the frequency of the signal indicates the strength of the pressure, and other characteristics tell the system which sensor the information came from.

Pain threshold and reflex reactions

The robotic skin is not only satisfied with collecting information, but also plays the role of a protective mechanism. There is a defined "pain threshold" in the system. If the pressure at any point exceeds this threshold, the system automatically generates a pain signal. Just as a person unthinkingly withdraws his hand when touching a hot stove, the robotic arm covered with this skin immediately retracts as soon as it feels pressure that could harm it. This process occurs at the local level, without loading the main control center of the robot, that is, its "brain". During the experiments, it was observed that the pressure on the arm was also reflected in the robot's facial expression, and when pain was felt, the robot's face reacted accordingly.

One of the practical advantages of the technology is that it can be repaired. The researchers designed the skin as modular pieces that are connected by magnetic locks. If any area is damaged, there is no need to replace the entire skin; it is enough to simply remove that piece and replace it with a new one. Since each module has a unique identification code, the system immediately recognizes the new element. Although only pressure sensing seems to be a certain limitation for now, other senses, such as temperature, are planned to be added to this system in the future. Powered by energy-efficient chips, this artificial skin heralds the beginning of a new era in which robots begin to sense the world like humans.