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12. Skin Electronics

Research

describe what you see in this image

Electronic skin refers to flexible, stretchable and self-healing electronics that are able to mimic functionalities of human or animal skin. The broad class of materials often contain sensing abilities that are intended to reproduce the capabilities of human skin to respond to environmental factors such as changes in heat and pressure.

Advances in electronic skin research focuses on designing materials that are stretchy, robust, and flexible. Research in the individual fields of flexible electronics and tactile sensing has progressed greatly; however, electronic skin design attempts to bring together advances in many areas of materials research without sacrificing individual benefits from each field.[5] The successful combination of flexible and stretchable mechanical properties with sensors and the ability to self-heal would open the door to many possible applications including soft robotics, prosthetics, artificial intelligence and health monitoring.

Recent advances in the field of electronic skin have focused on incorporating green materials ideals and environmental awareness into the design process. (Wikipedia)

Applications

Health monitoring E-skin can be used to monitor vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and hydration. Medical treatment E-skin can be used in medical implants and to help treat patients with COVID-19.

Robotics E-skin can be used to give robots a sense of touch, allowing them to interact with humans more intelligently.

Human-machine interfaces E-skin can be used to create interfaces between humans and machines. Virtual and augmented reality E-skin can be used to create more immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences.

Challenges E-skin can be expensive to make. E-skin can be difficult to fabricate. Electronic components are often brittle and inflexible, while human skin is malleable.

weekly assignment
  1. Document the concept, sketches, references also to artistic and scientific publications
  2. Design a “skin-circuit”, exploring the replication of the examples bwlow or: the Skin masquerade party project the Twinkle Nails project interactive tattoo
  3. Explore how to create a new skin electronics accessory.
  4. Document the project and included all source files and all materials used
  5. Upload your design files and source code
  6. Make a video with your skin electronic working
  7. Make a short performance/concept of your project functioning (extra credit)
get inspired!

References & Inspiration

I love this jaw-dropping project from robotics enthusiast Handaru, also known as maHidaka, that can only be described as the pinnacle of reality gamification.

His project ROS-Face, a mind-blowing Robot Operating System (ROS)-powered device that lets one control and manipulate human facial muscles using a typical gamepad, such as PlayStation or Logitech controllers or Nintendo Switch is awesome. Essentially, the mechanism involves sending small electric discharges potent enough to trigger muscle contractions. By connecting ROS to a gamepad, you can control these discharges, thereby manipulating the facial muscles. The question: Is it possible to do this with textiles?

All the code for this project can be downloaded on Handaru's git page

Led Jewlery

I've always liked things that shine. I think I'm very basic in that aspect. I was interested in making jewelry that would light up, but I didn't want it to be something common. I found this instructable that had some interesting models, but I wanted my project to have an air of mystery.

Led jewel, Instructables

While researching, I came across LEDs that lit up without being directly connected to any power source; they worked by bringing the LED close to a magnetic field. I liked the idea.

First, I tried to make my own wireless LED lights. For this, I found this tutorial by a guy who apparently made a setup with a relay that turned on and off with the same current that passed through a transistor.

I made a lot of experiments. As you can see in the video I even switched several coils in order to try to make it work. The main problem was that it needed a very high voltage to works. We reached ofer 20 V DC to start having som current in the receptor so I decided that it was too dangerous to use on human flesh.

There are other tutorials to achieve this inalambric led device, I think someone else should reserch this path.

Manwhile, after my failure, I research a little more to buy them in this chinese site and they were kind of cheap

Led jewel, Instructables

After waiting many weeks, my order from China finally arrived.

I decided to make a ring and a bracelet, so that when you close your fingers, the ring lights up. This is caused by two factors: First, when closing the fingers, the LEDs get closer to the bracelet where the main circuit is located. The second is that when bending the fingers, both coils, the one on the bracelet and the one on the ring, become oriented parallel to each other, which causes the LEDs to light up.

I have to mention that I tried to make a very complicated ring using surfaces in Solidworks, and I broke the tool. Something whet wrong after many surface operations and the file stopped working :V

Led jewel, Instructables

I think this idea can be explored in nails, earrings, some point attached to the body like a tattoo, etc. Here is the video whowing how the Magic Ring turned out. I think it is fantastic, many things could come out of this.

Learning Outcome

Skin electronics is not an easy topic; there aren't many people who have done interesting things that are replicable. However, the search was worth it.

I think we should broaden the concept and investigate more things close to the skin without being wearables, difficult to differentiate.

I have an interesting project to do, illuminating the back of a model with wings. Finishing my final project, I start working on it.

Fabrication files

To download the fabrication files, please visit this link

Oh! Not Again...

What if I could make a device that projects light wings on the back of the model?

Owl light wings

To be continue...