The asynchronous coded electronic skin (ACES)

2020: Robots began to use electronic skin which gives them tactile sense

At the beginning of August, 2020 the group of researchers of the National University of Singapore provided the asynchronous coded electronic skin (ACES). Thanks to this artificial nervous system robots and prosthetic devices have a tactile sense equivalent or even exceeding capabilities of human skin. According to developers, their technology is already used in some robots.

Researchers spent one and a half years for development of this system. Unlike other existing systems, all ACES sensors are united in network, but at the same time each sensor works independently. Such device of a system increases its resistance to different damages and provides a scaling option.

The asynchronous coded electronic skin for robots

At the same time electronic skin has hypersensibility. ACES is capable to detect touches 1000 times faster, than sensor nervous system of the person. For example, electronic skin is capable to distinguish physical contacts between different sensors less than for 60 nanoseconds is a record digit for the similar systems. ACES is also capable to define precisely a form, texture and hardness of objects during 10 milliseconds.

Stability and simplicity of the ACES system which remain even at increase in number of sensors - the key characteristics allowing to use this technology in robots, prostheses and other human-computer interfaces. At this ACES it is possible to connect to any types of touch layers, for example, with those that are intended for temperature measurement and humidity. For example, the combination of ACES to a transparent, selfrepair and waterproof touch layer creates electronic skin which is capable to selfrecovery. This type of electronic skin can be used for development of more realistic prostheses of extremities which will help disabled people to recover tactile sense.^[1]

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