Scientists at Stanford University have created artificial skin which is capable of stretching like human skin, and can even self-heal when damaged. The development could lead to the creation of humanoid robots which can alter their form without damaging their structure or appearance.
The artificial skin is made of silicone and polypropylene glycol, both of which have magnetic properties, allowing it to self-level. When heated to 70 degrees Celsius, the materials become soft and pliable, and then freeze when cooled. The healing process currently takes around 24 hours, which is faster than human skin. Scientists hope to make the process even quicker in future.
The skin comprises several layers, which can feel pressure or temperature, and respond to thermal, mechanical, or electrical changes. Each layer is built from long molecular chains connected by dynamic hydrogen bonds, which enable it to stretch without breaking.
The team imagines small robots which could be swallowed by humans in parts and gather together in the correct order inside the body. This could help surgeons to perform non-invasive procedures.
Lead author Chris Cooper says the artificial skin is an important step towards simulating human skin, which is composed of multiple layers collected in a specific order during the healing process. Co-author Dr Sam Ruth compared the invention to the electronic skin worn by the cyborg played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Terminator movies.
The addition of magnetic materials also allowed the prototype to self-eliminate from individual parts. The long-term aim of the project is to create devices capable of independently recovering from extreme damage.
The development of artificial skin may impact the creation of robots in the future, allowing them to more closely resemble the appearance and function of humans.