The University at Buffalo has developed an electronic fabric that mimics the sensitivity of human skin. The new technology allows robots not only to detect touch, but also to identify slipping and the slightest movements of objects in the hand — a key to more precise and delicate handling.
The fabric reproduces the way nerve endings work and operates through the triboelectric effect, in which electricity is generated when materials rub against each other. This system instantly detects the smallest changes and adjusts the grip. Its main advantage is response speed: from 0.76 to 38 milliseconds, comparable to the reaction of human skin.
This is not just another technological upgrade. It is an important step toward making robots not only precise, but also sensitive — and that is not a metaphor.
