Scientists have created a 3D-printed fingertip that uses artificial nerve signals for a sense of touch similar to human skin. It could revolutionise the fields of soft robotics and prosthetics by mimicking the way nerve endings detect fine details. Researchers from the University of Bristol say their aim is “to make artificial skin as good – or even better – than real skin”.
Our sense of touch is produced by complex structures inside our skin, according to Professor Nathan Lepora from the University of Bristol’s department of engineering mathematics. Recreating this involved 3D-printing a mesh of pin-like bumps called papillae that combine soft and hard materials to create similar complicated structures to what is found in biology.
“We found our 3D-printed tactile fingertip can produce artificial nerve signals that look like recordings from real, tactile neurons,” added Prof Lepora, based at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory. “Human tactile nerves transmit signals from various nerve endings called mechanoreceptors, which can signal the pressure and shape of a contact.”
