A new 3D printed'bionic skin' could soon allow robots to feel the world around them. And, researchers say it's a step toward electronic devices that can be printed directly onto the human body. The layers of'ink' used in the technique can set at room temperature, making for'endless' possible applications, from surgical robots to wearables that can detect explosives. A new 3D printed'bionic skin' could soon allow robots to feel the world around them. And, researchers say it's a step toward electronic devices that can be printed directly onto the human body This printer is equipped with four nozzles, to print different kinds of specialized'ink' for each layer of the device.

The replicants from Blade Runner were very human-like, and one of the reasons they appeared human was because they had skins that didn't just look real but also had the sensation of touch. In fact, the derogatory term used in that particular story for fictional replicants was "skin-job." If new research by engineers at the University of Minnesota advances further, it could result in a "bionic skin" that lets robots have the sense of touch. Not only that, the technology -- 3D printing stretchable electronic sensory devices -- could, in the future, be applied to printing electronics on human skin. The researchers published a study recently, describing their printing approach, in the journal Advanced Materials.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to hit the road in an alternative fashion to driverless cars, thanks to an AI powered concept tyre from Goodyear. The tyre maker debuted the Eagle 360 Urban, a 3D printed sensor-leaden spherical tyre with feeds back road data into an AI'brain' allowing for the tyre to by dynamically adjusted to suit changing road conditions. Covered in a super-elastic polymer that acts as a form of bionic skin for the tyre, and a morphing tread, the Eagle 360 Urban can use actuators to dynamically change the tread design of the tyre without compromising its support of the vehicles it is connected to. This allows the tyre to be adjusted for different driving conditions on the fly, for example in wet conditions dimples can be added to the treads to provide extra grip, while in dry conditions the tyre can be smoothed out to allow for smoother driving. If the bionic skin is damaged, the tyre's sensors will detect the problem and prompt the tyre to rotate to avoid contact of the damaged section with the road, thereby reducing pressure on that section of the tyre and allowing a self-healing process to start through the use of material that react physically and chemically together to form monocular bonds to repair punctures.

Geneva, March 7th - Goodyear has revealed its long-term vision for future smart, connected tires. In an evolving mobility ecosystem defined by the transition to driverless vehicles and shared mobility in urban centers, Goodyear aims to revolutionize the interaction between tires, vehicles and their surroundings. Goodyear unveiled the Eagle 360 Urban, its latest concept tire, at the Geneva International Motor Show. This 3-D printed sphere is the first concept tire to be powered by Artificial Intelligence and able to sense, decide, transform and interact. "A revolution will take place at the intersection of autonomy, mobility and connectivity. As this unfolds, tire technology will be even more important than it is today. To safely navigate their surroundings, the autonomous vehicles of the future will need to learn to cope with the millions of possible unknowns we face in every day driving scenarios. To do so they will need access to data and the ability to learn and adapt," said Jean-Claude Kihn, president of Goodyear Europe, Middle East and Africa.

It works rather like the BB-8 robot from Star Wars, and could change the way we drive. Goodyear has revealed a radical new spherical tire powered by AI and linked to the car by magnetic force so it can rotate on any axis in any direction. The firm says it will be able to sense road conditions and adapt accordingly, turning itself into either a wet or dry weather configuration instantly. Working like human muscles, the smart tire can re-shape the individual sections of the tire's tread design, adding'dimples' for wet conditions (left) or smoothing the tread for dry conditions (right) Made of super-elastic polymer, the tire's bionic skin has a flexibility similar to that of human skin, allowing it to expand and contract. This outer layer covers a foam-like material that is strong enough to remain flexible despite the weight of a vehicle.