Reports on robotic exoskeletons that enable people with restricted mobility to move more freely often feature photos of humans encased in heavy, Borg-like equipments. Swiss researchers aiming to make robotic exoskeletons less bulky and more practical developed a soft pneumatic actuator (SPA) skin embedded with piezoelectric sensors. A report by Robohub describes this "second skin" as pliable, lightweight, and able to provide tactile feedback to the wearer. 

Continue >>

[Image courtesy of RRL, EPFL and NCCR Robotics. Initially published in Robohub]