Home > News > Sensitive Synthetic Skin in the Works for Prosthetic Arms
January 5th, 2008
Sensitive Synthetic Skin in the Works for Prosthetic Arms
Abstract:
By combining carbon nanotubes with a specially designed polymer, researchers are making a material that looks, feels, and functions like human skin. The synthetic skin could lead to next-generation prosthetic arms with which users can feel a light touch, shake hands, cook, and type naturally.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), in Tennessee; NASA; and the nonprofit National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), in Hampton, Va., plan to have a 6-square-centimeter patch of the synthetic skin ready by the end of next year. "With this technology, the artificial limb will come much closer to its human counterpart," says ORNL researcher and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) liaison Art Clemons.
The project is part of DARPA's Revolutionizing Prosthetics program, which aims to build by 2010 a strong, lightweight mechanical arm that can touch and feel just like the real thing, send signals to amputees' brains, and respond to direct brain control.
Source:
spectrum.ieee.org
Related News Press |
News and information
New qubit now works without breaks: A universal design for superconducting qubits has been created April 19th, 2018
Observing biological nanotransporters: Chemistry April 19th, 2018
Salt boosts creation of 2-D materials: Rice University scientists show how salt lowers reaction temperatures to make novel materials April 18th, 2018
Nanotubes/Buckyballs/Fullerenes/Nanorods
Plasmons triggered in nanotube quantum wells: Rice, Tokyo Metropolitan scientists create platform for unique near-infrared devices March 16th, 2018
Big steps toward control of production of tiny building blocks March 9th, 2018
Nanotube fibers in a jiffy: Rice University lab makes short nanotube samples by hand to dramatically cut production time January 11th, 2018
Touchy nanotubes work better when clean: Rice, Swansea scientists show that decontaminating nanotubes can simplify nanoscale devices January 4th, 2018
Announcements
New qubit now works without breaks: A universal design for superconducting qubits has been created April 19th, 2018
Observing biological nanotransporters: Chemistry April 19th, 2018
Salt boosts creation of 2-D materials: Rice University scientists show how salt lowers reaction temperatures to make novel materials April 18th, 2018
Military
Quantum shift shows itself in coupled light and matter: Rice University scientists corral, quantify subtle movement in condensed matter system April 16th, 2018
New 4-D printer could reshape the world we live in March 20th, 2018
Imaging technique pulls plasmon data together: Rice University scientists' hyperspectral method analyzes many plasmonic nanoparticles in an instant March 16th, 2018
Flat gallium joins roster of new 2-D materials: Rice University, Indian Institute of Science introduce gallenene March 12th, 2018
Human Interest/Art
Weizmann Institute of Science Presents: Weizmann Wonder Wander - 4G - is Online June 21st, 2016
Call for NanoArt and Art-Science-Technology Papers June 9th, 2016
![]() |
||
![]() |
||
The latest news from around the world, FREE | ||
![]() |
![]() |
||
Premium Products | ||
![]() |
||
Only the news you want to read!
Learn More |
||
![]() |
||
Full-service, expert consulting
Learn More |
||
![]() |