Artificial skin could have crazy sensing abilities

MANSFIELD, CONNECTICUT — A new type of sensor developed by researchers could lead to artificial skin that could help burn victims "feel" and help protect workers, according to a paper in Advanced Materials.
The skin's ability to sense pressure, heat, cold and vibration is an important safety function. Burn victims, those with prosthetic limbs and others who have lost skin sensitivity can often hurt themselves on accident.
According to UConn Today, researchers from the University of Connecticut and University of Toronto wanted to create a sensor that could mimic the sensing abilities of the skin, as well as the ability to detect magnetic fields and sound waves.
The scientists made a sensor with a silicone tube wrapped in a copper wire and filled with a solution of iron oxide nanoparticles.
An electric current is created when the nanoparticles rub the inside of the silicone tube, which is picked up as a signal from the copper wire.
Researchers were able to distinguish between pressure, sound waves and magnetic fields. They were also able to tell the differences between electrical signals caused by walking, running, jumping and swimming.
The team hope the sensors will someday be able to help burn victims "feel" again or be used as an early warning system for workers exposed to high magnetic fields.
The scientists will now work to see if they can make a functional sensor into a flat configuration more like skin.