Robots to Feel Pain? New E-Skin Gives Human-Like Reflexes, Boosts Safety

• Researchers at City University of Hong Kong developed electronic skin for robots, enabling human-like pain reflexes.
• Led by engineer Yuyu Gao, the neuromorphic skin distinguishes gentle touch from harmful force, mimicking the human nervous system.
• Beyond a "pain threshold," it triggers immediate withdrawal by sending high-voltage pulses directly to motors, bypassing central processing for rapid response.
• This technology enhances robot safety, reduces injury risk to humans, and allows for quick detection and modular replacement of damaged skin sections.
• Published in PNAS, this innovation is crucial for making humanoid robots safer and more adaptive in shared environments.

Why It Matters: New electronic skin gives robots human-like pain reflexes, making them safer and more responsive.