Instead of using X-rays or ultrasound, can we use the image to touch the insides of the human body and electronic components? In a study published February 15 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers present a bionic finger that can create 3D maps of the internal shape and texture of complex objects by simply touching their outer surface.

We were inspired by human fingers, which have the most sensitive tactile perception we know of,” says senior author Jianye Luo, a professor at Wuyi University. For example, when we touch our bodies with our fingers, we can feel not only the texture of our skin but also the contours of the bone beneath it.

Our bionic finger goes beyond previous artificial sensors that were only capable of detecting and discriminating between external shape, surface texture, and hardness,” says co-author Zhiming Chen, a lecturer at Wuyi University.

The bionic finger “scans” an object by moving across it and applying pressure—think a continuous stream of bruises or prods. With each strike, the carbon fibers are compressed, and the degree to which they are compressed provides information about the relative hardness or softness of the object. Depending on the material of the object, this bionic can also compress when poked with a finger: hard objects will retain their shape, while soft objects will deform if sufficient pressure is applied. This information, along with the recorded location, is relayed to a personal computer, and shown onscreen as a 3D map.

The researchers tested the bionic finger’s ability to map the internal and external characteristics of complex objects made of a variety of materials, such as the rigid “letter A” buried under a layer of soft silicone, as well as more abstract shapes. objects. When they used it to scan a small compound object made of three different materials – a hard inner material, a soft inner material, and a soft outer coating – the bionic finger not only discriminated between the soft outer coating and the inner hard was able to. ridges, but it can also tell the difference between a soft outer coating and a softer material filling the inner grooves.

Next, the researchers tested the ability of the finger to mimic and image human tissue. They made this tissue — which includes a skeletal component made of three layers of rigid polymer, and a soft silicone “muscle” layer — using 3D printing. The bionic finger was able to reproduce a 3D profile of the tissue’s structure and detect a simulated blood vessel beneath the muscle layer.

The team also explored the bionic finger’s ability to diagnose problems in electronic devices without ever opening them. By scanning the surface of a faulty electronic device with a bionic finger, researchers were able to map its internal electrical components and pinpoint the spot where the circuit was disconnected, as well as encapsulate the mis-drilled hole without breaking it. 

“This tactile technique opens up a non-optical method for non-destructive testing of the human body and flexible electronics,” Luo says. Next, we would like to develop the bionic finger’s capability for omnidirectional recognition with different surface materials.

Newswise – What if, instead of using X-rays or ultrasound, we could use touch to feel the insides of the human body and electronic components? In a study published February 15 in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science, researchers present a bionic finger that can create 3D maps of the internal shape and texture of complex objects by simply touching their outer surface.

The bionic finger “scans” an object by moving across it and applying pressure—think a continuous stream of bruises or prods. With each strike, the carbon fibers are compressed, and the degree to which they are compressed provides information about the relative hardness or softness of the object. Depending on the material of the object, this bionic may also compress when poked with a finger: hard objects will retain their shape, while soft objects will deform if sufficient pressure is applied. This information, along with the recorded location, is relayed to a personal computer, and shown onscreen as a 3D map..

The researchers tested the bionic finger’s ability to map the internal and external characteristics of complex objects made of several types of material, such as a rigid “letter A” buried under a layer of soft silicone, as well as There are also more abstract shaped objects. When they used it to scan a small compound object made of three different materials – a hard inner material, a soft inner material, and a soft outer coating – the bionic finger not only discriminated between the soft outer coating and the inner hard was able to. ridges, but it can also tell the difference between a soft outer coating and a softer material filling the inner grooves.

Next, the researchers tested the ability of the finger to mimic and image human tissue. They constructed this tissue—which includes a skeletal component made of three layers of rigid polymer, and a soft silicone “muscle” layer—using 3D printing. The bionic finger was able to reproduce a 3D profile of the tissue’s structure and detect a simulated blood vessel beneath the muscle layer.

The team also explored the bionic finger’s ability to diagnose problems in electronic devices without ever opening them. By scanning the surface of a faulty electronic device with a bionic finger, researchers were able to map its internal electrical components and pinpoint the spot where the circuit was disconnected, as well as encapsulate the mis-drilled hole without breaking it. coat.

This tactile technology opens up a non-optical way for non-destructive testing of the human body and flexible electronics,” says Luo. We aim to develop bionic finger formulations for omnidirectional recognition with various surface materials.