Scientists Develop Electronic Skin To Give Robots The Human Touch

Scientists from the University of Cambridge and University College London (UCL) have developed a sensitive electronic “skin” for robots. This robotic tissue has been tested as a robotic hand, allowing machines to detect information through sensors and emulate the human sense of touch.

According to the University of Cambridge, the technology is not yet as sensitive as human skin, but it allows robots to interact in new ways and detect different types of touch. Through its sensors, the robotic skin can detect signals from over 860,000 pathways and recognize different levels of pressure, hot or cold surfaces, or “damage” from stabbing or cutting, and the impact on its surface.

The robotic skin can also “learn,” as it integrates a machine learning system to recognize and detect patterns more efficiently. The researchers also focused on developing a conductive and flexible material that is both durable and low-cost.

“Having different sensors for different types of touch leads to materials that are complex to make,” said lead author Dr David Hardman from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering. “We wanted to develop a solution that can detect multiple types of touch at once, but in a single material.”

The scientists melted a flexible and “electrically conductive gelatine-based hydrogel,” testing different configurations until they found the most efficient one.

“We’re not quite at the level where the robotic skin is as good as human skin, but we think it’s better than anything else out there at the moment,” said co-author Dr Thomas George Thuruthel from UCL. “Our method is flexible and easier to build than traditional sensors, and we’re able to calibrate it using human touch for a range of tasks.”

The researchers still need to work on improvements, like the skin’s durability, but they expect to carry on more tests for real-world experiences in the near future. They believe the robotic skin can be useful in multiple industries and fields, including prosthetics, the automotive industry, robotic surgery, and space exploration.

Advances in robotics aimed at developing technologies that approach human capabilities have made great strides in 2025. Recently, the first global robot kickboxing competition was held, showcasing these machines’ ability to maintain balance and coordinate movements like humans. There was also the first robot half-marathon. Human biology remains superior, but technological developments are bringing robots closer to human abilities every day.