A group of researchers at Stanford University have created a stretchy sensor that could possibly provide sensation to touch screens, prostheses and even robots. Picture and video after the jump.
Wired reports that the team sprayed carbon nanotubes onto a layer of silicon, then stretching the substance out. The nanotubes act like springs and can measure the force being exerted on them many times without being worn out. The substance can apparently sense any pressure from a "firm pinch between your thumb and forefinger" to twice the force of an elephant stomping.
While this substance can't sense super-light pressures, some of Stanford's previous projects can. With some more work, those projects can improve this one. "We just need to make some modifications to the surface of the electrode so that we can have some sensitivity," says Zhenan Bao, associate professor of chemical engineering at Stanford.
While this substance can't sense super-light pressures, some of Stanford's previous projects can. With some more work, those projects can improve this one. "We just need to make some modifications to the surface of the electrode so that we can have some sensitivity," says Zhenan Bao, associate professor of chemical engineering at Stanford.
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