Tiny Fibers Could Lead to Robotic Nerves

Jun-06-18 Tiny fibers able to detect minute pressure while also withstanding extreme deformation could be used to create artificial nerves for robots.

Developed by a team at EPFL, the fibers are made using the thermal drawing process. The team placed the electrodes within a carefully designed macroscopic structure along with the fiber components, then heated the material and stretched it. This caused the fiber components to extend lengthwise while contracting crosswise, and kept the electrodes in generally the same location.

According to the team, the fibers’ flexibility and sensitivity to pressure and stress mean they could be used to offers robots a ‘sense of touch,’ as well as have applications in smart clothing.

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[EUREKALERT.ORG]
[STI.EPFL.CH]

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