The uniqueness of the development lies in the materials involved. The Chinese were the first to use natural silk combined with a protein substance to create an electronic skin.
Despite the fact that the invention of high-tech fabrics takes place everywhere, the know-how of the Celestial Empire draws attention to its resemblance to human skin. It has physicochemical properties such as extensibility, regenerative capacity and antibacterial activity. So the damaged areas are restored by themselves. For a transplant, it is enough to place a flap of skin of the appropriate size over the wound and allow the technologies to work “miracles”. In addition, the robot’s epidermis captures the temperature, pressure and humidity of the environment, according to an article published on the website of the American scientific journal ACS Nano.
In 2018, scientists at another Chinese university, Tsinghua, revealed an electronic skin made of an ultra-fine substance called graphene. In the future, they intend to apply it to the human body to measure various indicators, including pulse and pressure. According to the inventors, the skin is very sensitive and has a long stable “shelf life”. As future clients, people with prostheses are selected for the installation of sensors on the skin. And for those who suffer from chronic illnesses, the shell will track vital signs.
