Soft skin coverings and touch sensors are becoming increasingly popular in the field of robotics as they make robots safer and more intuitive for human interaction. However, these features have been traditionally expensive and difficult to manufacture. A recent study led by Joohyung Kim from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has shown that soft skin pads made from thermoplastic urethane can be efficiently manufactured using 3D printers. These pads not only function as soft skin for robotic arms but also as pressure-based mechanical sensors.
The 3D-printed pads are airtight and connect to pressure sensors. When the pad is touched, it deforms like a squeezed balloon, and the displaced air activates the pressure sensor. This technology allows the robot to sense and respond to its environment, making it safer for interaction with humans. Kim pointed out that the traditional tactile robotic sensors are expensive and complex, but their study has demonstrated that functional and durable alternatives can be made cheaply using 3D printing. This technique can also be easily customized to fit different robotic systems by reprogramming the 3D printer.
The researchers highlighted the potential applications of the soft skin pads in enhancing both the safety and operational functionality of robots. The pads can be used to automatically stop the robot if they detect anything near a dangerous area, such as a joint. They can also interpret touches and taps as instructions for the robot. Additionally, the 3D-printed parts can be easily adapted and replaced in new robotic systems due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. This feature is particularly beneficial in applications where cleaning and maintaining parts is expensive or impractical.
Kim emphasized the scalability of 3D printing in manufacturing interchangeable parts for soft-skinned robots. In scenarios like hospital settings where regular sanitization or replacement of skin is necessary, 3D printing offers a cost-effective solution. The ease of manufacturing provided by this new technique could potentially lead to increased interest and research in tactile inputs and robotic sensing. Kim expressed his hope that the simplicity and affordability of 3D printing soft skin pads will inspire more exploration and development in the field of robotic sensing and control.
Currently, interactions between humans and robotic systems mainly involve computer vision and language models. However, Kim believes that there is a need for more data on physical interactions, particularly in collecting force-level data. This force-level data is crucial for robots to have a direct interaction with their environment. Kim and his research group are working towards collecting this data to improve the capabilities and efficiency of robotic systems. The introduction of the 3D-printed soft skin pads has opened up new possibilities for advancing the field of robotic sensing and control through enhanced tactile inputs and interactions.
