Hong Kong : While robots have long been designed to assist or replace humans in various tasks, they have lacked one fundamental human trait: the ability to feel pain. That may soon change.
According to recent reports, Chinese researchers have developed an artificial skin for robots that enables them to experience sensations, including pain, similar to humans.
Led by engineer Yu Yugao at the City University of Hong Kong, the team has created this innovative skin that mimics the human nervous system. It allows robots to not only sense touch but also respond to potentially harmful stimuli.
The artificial skin, built using advanced neuromorphic technology, features four active layers. When touched, it converts physical contact into electrical signals that function like messages transmitted by human nerves to the brain.
Scientists explained that the skin can differentiate between light pressure and more intense stimuli. A gentle touch is perceived as a simple contact, while stronger pressure triggers a pain response similar to that in humans. For instance, if a robot comes into contact with a sharp or hot object, it will immediately retract its hand, just as a human would.
One of the most remarkable aspects of this technology is its built-in reflex system. When the robot senses intense pain or injury, the skin sends a high-voltage pulse directly to the motors, causing the robot’s limbs to withdraw instantly—without needing to wait for instructions from its central processing unit.
This breakthrough marks a significant step toward creating robots that can interact safely with humans and their environment, potentially transforming fields ranging from healthcare to industrial automation.
