A group of Italian researchers has developed a 3D printed artificial skin that could be used to improve the tactile sensing capabilities of robots.
Researchers fromScuola Superiore Sant’anna，，，，CA’Foscari威尼斯大学，，，，和the罗马萨皮恩扎创建了3D印刷的皮肤，该皮肤成功地模仿了Ruffini受体的功能，Ruffini受体的功能位于皮下人皮肤组织上，检测拉伸，振动，温暖和压力。
Once attached to a robot and combined with a deep learning algorithm based on a multi-layered convolutional neural network (CNN), the skin can estimate the force and point at which the robot comes into contact with an object, potentially enabling safer human-robot cooperation in the future.
3D打印人造皮肤
3D bioprinted skin models and grafts have received increasing interest and development in recent years due to their potential uses for疾病建模，，，，testing the efficacy of new treatments，并提供替代动物测试。
生物打印的皮肤也引起了人们对更有效伤口愈合治疗的潜力，例如NOVOPLASMconsortium’s cold plasma technology for治疗受感染的烧伤和皮肤移植，，，，和the伯明翰大学和哈德斯菲尔德大学SLAM 3D生物打印技术treat chronic skin wounds。
3D printed skin is even being tested as far away as space, with astronauts on the国际空间站（ISS）开发由自己的细胞制成的生物打印绷带可以用来更好地治愈太空中的肉伤。
改善机器人触觉感应
然而，意大利研究小组正在研究出于另一个目的的生物打印人造皮肤。提高机器人的触觉传感功能。特别是，该研究的发现可能会改善在一系列现实世界中与人类相互作用的移动机器人的性能，例如公共空间，家庭环境，医疗保健设施和办公室。
通过在现有和未来的机器人上复制人类的生物学感官过程，研究人员希望改善移动机器人的性能，以完成一系列交互式和手动任务，并在工业环境中与人类工人一起运营期间的安全风险。
为了实现这一目标，团队专注于复制Ruffini受体的功能，小而缓慢地适应细胞，以检测皮肤与外部物体和刺激之间的相互作用，例如热，压力和接触。
研究人员3D生物打印了8mm厚的柔软，弯曲和可拉伸的聚合物层，该层与430mm长的光纤集成在一起。仿生的“皮肤”类似于人类的前臂，而光纤含有光子纤维bragg光栅（FBG）换能器，能够模仿Ruffini受体的功能。
然后将皮肤安装到机器人中，以使其在其周围环境中检测刺激的能力。
To decode the FBG sensor outputs, the team developed a CNN-based deep learning algorithm and multi-grid neuron integration process that informed robot of the force and point of contact of an external stimuli. The researchers then put their bioprinted skin and algorithm to the test through a series of simulations, within which it reportedly achieved “very promising results” in predicting the force applied to the robot and where it was applied.
在本文中，研究人员指出，他们的发现可能会为AI综合的人造皮肤铺平道路，从而使未来的人类机器人合作更加安全。展望未来，团队说，他们的生物打印皮肤可以在各种类人动物机器人上实现，因为模块化皮肤贴片可以拼凑在一起以适合不同的机器人架构和形状。
As such, the next step in the researchers’ study is to investigate the extent to which their bioprinted skin can be applied to other robotic systems.
有关该研究的更多信息可以在标题为：“用纤维bragg的光栅和深层神经网络的Ruffini受体的功能模仿可实现生物启发的大区块触觉皮肤，”published in the Nature Machine Intelligence journal. The study is co-authored by L. Massari, G. Fransvea, J. D’Abbraccio, M. Filosa, G. Terruso, A. Aliperta, G. D’Alesio, M. Zaltieri, E. Schena, E. Palermo, E. Sinibaldi, and C. Oddo.
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特色图片显示the 3D printed artificial skin. Image via Nature Machine Intelligence.
