Synthetic skin
By combining carbon nanotubes with a specially designed polymer, researchers are making a material that looks, feels, and functions like human skin. IEEE Spectrum is reporting how the synthetic skin could lead to next-generation prosthetic arms with which users can feel a light touch, shake hands, cook, and type naturally. The project is part of DARPA’s Revolutionizing Prosthetics program, which aims to build by 2010 a strong, lightweight mechanical arm that can touch and feel just like the real thing, send signals to amputees’ brains, and respond to direct brain control.
Just don’t start peeling back your own skin yet – Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the National Institute of Aerospace plan to have a 6-square-centimeter patch of the synthetic skin ready by the end of next year.
