Thin Pressure Sensor Made of Plastic and Gold

by Amantha May | December 7, 2020 | Enabling Tech

We’ve previously covered a variety of adhesive sensors that measure internal biomarkers — such as body temperature or heart rate — while affixed to the skin. Now researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a skin sensor that detects stimuli...

New Study to Help Limb Surgery Patients with Rehab

by Bruce Brown | December 3, 2020 | Enabling Tech

It’s fair to say most of us don’t think about how we move our hands and fingers when we use them for common tasks. We focus on hand and finger positions when we learn new skills such as knitting or try to perfect skills such as holding a golf club, but...

New Study Tests Virtual Reality for Pain Management

by Bruce Brown | November 27, 2020 | Enabling Tech

Opioid use for chronic pain management accounts for the bulk of a global market valued at $25.4 billion in 2018. Unfortunately, long-term opioid use frequently leads to addiction and abuse. Overdose by prescription and illicit opioids currently causes 128 deaths each...

Elephant’s Trunk Inspires New Approach to Robotic Gripping [video]

by Amantha May | November 27, 2020 | Enabling Tech

An elephant’s trunk holds a timeless fascination for children and adults alike. This unique appendage allows the animal to breathe, smell, make sound, drink, bathe, and grasp. Comprising up to 40,000 muscles, the trunk has the strength to lift heavy tree...

New Electronic Skin Can Be Recycled

by Amantha May | November 25, 2020 | Enabling Tech

An innovative “electronic skin” offers similar benefits as other flexible patches; it’s less bulky than a smartwatch and potentially gives more accurate readings. But the electronic skin, designed by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder,...

Flexible Light Pipes Give Robots the Sense of Touch [video]

by Bruce Brown | November 20, 2020 | Enabling Tech

When we write about stretchable sensors, the topic usually involves sensors embedded or woven in fabric used to create smart garments for humans. Researchers at Cornell University’s College of Engineering developed a stretchable fiber-optic sensor for robots....