Un prototipo di "pelle artificiale" grande quanto il dito di una mano è stato realizzato da ricercatori dell'EPFL di Losanna. Si adatta in tempo reale a qualsiasi forma, ed è in grado di trasmettere sensazioni tattili sotto forma di vibrazioni e pressioni.
È composta da una microscopico "sandwich" di silicone che può essere riempito d'aria con frequenze che raggiungono i 100 Hertz (100 impulsi al secondo) in grado di riprodurre la sensazione del tatto. Una serie di sensori percepiscono inoltre le deformazioni della superficie, trasferendole ad un computer, in modo da modificare istantaneamente le stimolazioni e adattarle alla situazione. La possibilità di trasmettere il tatto apre molte morte all'interazione tra umani e macchine, alla riabilitazione in ambito sanitario e nel campo della realtà virtuale.
La ricerca è stata pubblicata sulla rivista Soft Robotics, ed è firmata dal team guidato da Jaime Paik del Laboratorio di robotica riconfigurabile in collaborazione col Laboratorio di interfacce bioelettroniche e flessibili di Stéphanie Lacour.
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