Researchers at Washington State University have developed a customizable electronic skin for prosthetics that senses temperature and pressure at ten times a finer scale than current commercial glove sensors. The breakthrough, detailed in Cell Reports Physical Science, aims to give amputees enhanced tactile feeling and improve their ability to perform daily tasks, according to study authors published by Washington State University.
Overcoming Prosthetic Limitations With 3D-Printed E-Skins
Existing electronic skins are often expensive, feature low sensing resolution, and fit poorly over large regions of the body. Furthermore, custom-shaped e-skins historically suffer from degraded sensing abilities, and dense sensor arrays struggle to process data in real time due to mechanical compromises, as noted by Washington State University graduate student and first author Hongyi Shen. To solve these engineering hurdles, the research team created a thin-layered sandwich module incorporating both pressure and temperature sensors.
The team utilizes a specialized “scan-model-print” manufacturing method. Kaiyan Qiu, Berry Family Assistant Professor at Washington State University and corresponding author on the paper, explains that a scanner maps the geometry of a prosthetic limb, allowing sensors to be deployed as a multimodal system that covers freeform surfaces seamlessly. Instead of using adhesives, individual sensor modules snap together mechanically much like Legos, lowering production complexity.
The project received partial support from Washington State University’s National Science Foundation Research Traineeship in Next-Generation Robotics, directed by Prashanta Dutta, who also serves as a corresponding author on the research. Additional funding came from university startup and Cougar Cage funds. The research team has already submitted an invention disclosure for a provisional patent through the Washington State University Office of Research Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Researchers are currently developing an actuator designed to convert the raw sensing signals of the e-skin into neural stimulation, which would let an amputee feel what they touch by signaling nearby nerves. While clinical adoption requires further testing, this scalable manufacturing approach lays a foundational step toward fully functional bionic skin.
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