Engineers develop "e-whiskers" that could give robots the ability to "see" and "feel" their environment.

Many creature apply whiskers to help sense their surround . The extremely sensitive tactile hairsbreadth can give info about the atmospheric condition and can help the fauna navigate its surroundings in low visibility . Now , scientists have revealed a epitome for electronic whiskers which could be widely used for human - machine port and with next - generation robots , among many others . The ongoing research is being led by Materials Science professorAli Javey from UC Berkeleyand the paper was recently print in theProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

The electronic whiskers are passing sensitiveand can find even a exclusive pascal of pressure , which is about as much pressure as a single dollar bill puts on a tabular array . To test the practicality of the whiskers , the researchers generated high quality two- and three - dimensional maps of breaking wind current , created in tangible time . On a larger scale leaf , this could serve environmental scientists monitor weather condition .

The whiskers are made of a combining of carbon paper nanotube and eloquent nanoparticles , which are apply to high - aspect - ratio elastic fibers . These materials make the e - sensory hair quite whippy and were picture to be about ten times more sensitive than previously discharge mechanical sensory hair . Javey say that the e - whiskers are actually quite easy to fabricate , which will help with keep costs low .

In the hereafter , the team plan to integrate these whiskers into automaton for admit the machines to gather more selective information about their surroundings . Because they are lightweight , flexible , and improbably sensitive , they would make a perfect improver to the next generation of chic golem . As the robots move around , signals from the hairsbreadth aid father a more arrant view of the surroundings .

Additionally , these whiskers could aid in the evolution of human - political machine interfaces for biomedical diligence . The squad has ruminate that the hair’s-breadth could be modified into a wearable detector in fiat to continually monitor heart rate and strength of pulse .

Javey ’s lab also works extensively with electronic skin , which is also meant to interact with the surround . In 2013 , the lab announce the yield of athin e - skinthat was able to perch up in response to pressure . This skin has many program , including the ability for robot to hold touchy objects like an nut firmly , without crushing them .