'Autonomous humanoid robot with full-body artificial skin developed'

Scientists have developed a system combining artificial skin with control algorithms and used it to create first automous humaid robot with full-body artificial skin. Sensitive syntic skin enables robots to sense ir own bodies and surroundings -- a crucial capability if y are to be in close contact with people. artificial skin developed by Gordon Cheng and his team at Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany consists of hexagonal cells about one inch in diameter. Each is equipped with a microprocessor and sensors to detect contact, acceleration, proximity and temperature, according to research published in journal Proceedings of IEEE.

Such artificial skin enables robots to perceive ir surroundings in much greater detail and with more sensitivity. This t only helps m to move safely. It also makes m safer when operating near people and gives m ability to anticipate and actively avoid accidents, researchers said. skin cells mselves were developed around 10 years ago by Cheng, Professor of Cognitive Systems at TUM.

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Humaid robot

However, this invention only revealed its full potential when integrated into a sophisticated system. biggest obstacle in developing robot skin has always been computing capacity. Human skin has around five million receptors. Efforts to implement continuous processing of data from sensors in artificial skin soon run up against limits, according to researchers. Previous systems were quickly overloed with data from just a few hundred sensors.

To overcome this problem, Cheng and his team do t monitor skin cells continuously, but rar with an event-based system. This reduces processing effort by up to 90 per cent. individual cells transmit information from ir sensors only when values are changed. This is similar to way human nervous system works. For example, we feel a hat when we first put it on, but we quickly get used to sensation, researchers said.

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With event-based approach, Cheng and his team have w succeeded in applying artificial skin to a human-size automous robot t dependent on any external computation. H-1 robot is equipped with 1260 cells (with more than 13000 sensors) on its upper body, arms, legs and even soles of its feet. This gives it a new "bodily sensation," researchers said. For example, with its sensitive feet, H-1 is able to respond to uneven floor surfaces and even balance on one leg. With its special skin, H-1 can even give a person a hug safely, y said.

"This might t be as important in industrial applications, but in areas such as nursing care, robots must be designed for very close contact with people," said Cheng.

Picture: AP