Smart artificial skin from paper

Cheap multi-sensing skin could have big implications for medical and robotics sector

Researchers have managed to create a smart skin that can respond to external stimuli using only items found in a typical household, such as post-it notes and tin foil.

The multi-sensor artificial skin is capable of sensing pressure, temperature, humidity, proximity, pH, and air flow and could have important applications in medicine and robotics, the researchers from the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).

The flexible, paper-based skin is layered onto a post-it note, with paper, aluminium foil, lint-free wipes, and pencil lines acting as sensing components. Being made of recyclable materials, this paper skin presents a large number of sensory functions in a cheap and environmentally friendly way.

"Democratisation of electronics will be key in the future for its continued growth. In that regard, a skin-type sensory platform made with recyclable materials only demonstrates the power of human imagination," said Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, senior author of the Advanced Materials Technologies paper. "This is the first time a singular platform shows multi-sensory functionalities close to that of natural skin. Additionally they are being read or monitored simultaneously like our own skin."