Stanford Develops Nanotube-Infused Artificial Skin for Robots and People Alike
19 replies, posted
[QUOTE]A group of scientists from Stanford University has created an artificial “skin” that acts as a stretchable, super-thin pressure sensor.The Bao Research Group led by Zhenan Bao has demonstrated the film, which is made from single-wall carbon nanotubes bent to act as springs. The real breakthrough, however, isn’t just creating a stretchable film that returns to its original shape: it’s being able to finely measure the force applied either through stretching or compression.
The film is created by spraying the carbon nanotubes in liquid suspension onto a thin layer of silicon. The silicon is then stretched, which aligns some of the nano-bundles; when released, some of the tubes are bent into a spring-like configuration. Applying this stretching in two axes creates a film that the researchers say can be “stretched in any direction” while completely rebounding afterwards.
This is turned into a sensor by coating both sides of a silicon substrate with the nanotube film. The silicon stores charge, and its capacity is proportional to its thickness.
"This sensor can register pressure ranging from a firm pinch between your thumb and forefinger to twice the pressure exerted by an elephant standing on one foot," said team member Darren Lipomi, a postdoctoral researcher in Bao's lab.
The lab nominates prosthetics and robotics as possible applications for the sensitive film. Its work has been published online in [I]Nature Nanotechnology.[/I]
Bao was one of the co-authors of the paper that led to the so-called “Schön scandal”, in which lead author Jan Schön claimed to have created molecular-scale transistors. Schön was accused of scientific fraud and later had his PhD revoked; however, Wikipedia says all of his co-authors were cleared of misconduct by a report commissioned by Bell Laboratories in 2002.
Here's Stanford's video demonstration of the film. Enjoy. ® [/QUOTE]
[video=youtube;NJHZylgWeJw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJHZylgWeJw[/video]
[URL]http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/10/24/skin_like_sensor/[/URL]
And this is why this kind of science for making the human race better is awesome.
Downside: It may cost a shitload if it goes out for the first few years.
Can you fuck it?
[QUOTE=Nikota;32954001]Can you fuck it?[/QUOTE]
The future of fleshlights?
[QUOTE=Super_Poo;32954164]The future of fleshlights?[/QUOTE]
Fleshlights with haptic feedback, amazing.
Replicants.
I'm guessing people with missing limbs or severe burns might really be able to make use of this, unless I'm gravely mistaking how this stuff is supposed to work.
Hell yes, robots with a realistic sense of touch. Science fiction is slowly becoming real life more and more every day, and it's awesome.
If I'm reading this correctly, that is.
Can't wait to see some robot prototipes using this..
and hopefully a medical applicaton too!
Can't wait for a robot to fuck!
[editline]25th October 2011[/editline]
Also damn, this is just awesome! 2011 the year of all random and science discoveries!
[Insert obligatory Deus Ex reference here]
On a more serious note, I can see this having some extremely interesting applications for pretty much everything.
Is there anything nanotubes can't do?
They're like magic dust - rub them on anything to make it better.
with the sensory range it has, how accurate is it?
[editline]25th October 2011[/editline]
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;32956401]Is there anything nanotubes can't do?
They're like magic dust - rub them on anything to make it better.[/QUOTE]
isn't there something like that nicknamed pixie dust, that can cause even fingertips to grow back?
omnigel!
carbon nanotubes fix everything
See, even genius scientists use Windows XP
[img]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/29551413/ZScreen/2011-10/Screenshot-2011-10-25_16.19.43.png[/img]
What a never asked for bomb.
[QUOTE=Sega Saturn;32963833]What a never asked for bomb.[/QUOTE]
It was a good joke.
What a rotten way to die.
I think I remember reading nanotubes are supposed to be quite strong too?
Just thinking if this is right, it could be used in some very low profile protection clothing.
e.g diving, soldiers firefighters.
Not too sure if I'm right about that though.
Edit:
This would make for some great "nanotube gel in the keyhole" pranks too.
[QUOTE=The Janitor;32969425]I think I remember reading nanotubes are supposed to be quite strong too?
Just thinking if this is right, it could be used in some very low profile protection clothing.
e.g diving, soldiers firefighters.
Not too sure if I'm right about that though.
Edit:
This would make for some great "nanotube gel in the keyhole" pranks too.[/QUOTE]
Carbon nanorods are INCREDIBLY strong along their long axis. They have the highest tensile strength, bulk modulus and elastic modulus of any discovered material in the universe (if you include things like aggregated diamond nanorods under the 'carbon nanorod' umbrella term).
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