Underwater Robot with Touch Sensitive Skin

Underwater robot with a sense of touch

"If the robot encounters an obstacle, the strain gauge is distorted and the electrical resistance changes. The special feature of our strain gauge is that it is not glued but printed on – which means we can apply the sensor to curved surfaces of the robot."

“The applications are numerous. Underwater robots with tactile capability can maintain offshore drilling rigs or collect sediment samples. The researchers hope that in future the sensor will be able to distinguish between the current and an obstacle.”

EurekAlert technovelgy.com