Smart foam gives robots the ability to self-repair and sense objects

Robots and machines are getting smarter with the advancement of artificial intelligence, but they still lack the ability to touch and feel their subtle and complex surroundings like human beings. Now, Singaporean researchers have developed a smart foam that can give machines more than human touch. The artificially innervated foam, or AiFoam – which is soft and feels like a sponge – mimics the human sense of touch, can sense nearby objects without actually touching, and repairs itself when damaged. The technology could be very useful in the creation of robotic arms and prostheses. The researchers say some advanced electronic skins can feel pressure when in direct contact with an object.