A new artificial human skin gives people spiderman like superpowers
As sensors and flexible electronics start to combine it opens up new amazing possibilities.
Key takeaways
- The artificial skin could have a number of uses, for instance it could assist during the disposal of hazardous materials, robotic search and rescue missions or even help with remote health care monitoring.
- The tube is wrapped with copper wire to allow electrical signals to be sent through it.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2019) 'A new artificial human skin gives people spiderman like superpowers', 311 Institute, 11 October. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/a-new-artificial-human-skin-gives-people-spiderman-like-superpowers/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Researchers at the University of Connecticut and University of Toronto have developed artificial skin that gives its wearer, whether they’re robots or humans, “superhuman abilities.” The stretchable skin pulls of this remarkable feat thanks to the fact it’s equipped with multi-functional sensors that, just like Spiderman and his spider senses, can sense strong magnetic fields and changes in pressure. Their research was published in the journal Advanced Materials.
“It is a new group of smart wearable electronics that are flexible, stretchable, shapable, and possess unique sensing capabilities that mimic human skin,” said postdoctoral fellow at UConn Islam Mosa. But it could also go beyond merely mimicking and enhancing human skin and our senses.
“It would be very cool if it had abilities human skin does not; for example, the ability to detect magnetic fields, sound waves, and abnormal behaviors,” added Mosa.
The artificial skin could have a number of uses, for instance it could assist during the disposal of hazardous materials, robotic search and rescue missions or even help with remote health care monitoring. It could even give back amputees and burn victims a degree of feeling.
The wearable uses a “multimodal ferrofluid‐based triboelectric nanogenerator” (FO-TENG) that’s essentially an elastic silicone nanotube filled with ferrofluid, a type of iron oxide nanoparticle fluid that can react to magnetic fields. The tube is wrapped with copper wire to allow electrical signals to be sent through it.
The skin also has “excellent waterproof ability, conformability, and stretchability” according to the paper, and could hold its shape for years.
But it’s not exactly flat like skin yet. The team of researchers still have to find a way to bring down the profile of their tubular prototype so it can act more like real skin, and the team are now waiting for approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are hoping that they can get it onto the market within a few years.
What this means for your organisation
Robots and workers gain new senses.
The skin picks up magnetism and pressure shifts that people cannot feel. Fitted to robots or wearers, it adds information to every touch. Firms handling hazardous materials or search and rescue should watch early versions.
Wearables are moving onto the body.
Flexible, waterproof and stretchable electronics can now act like a second skin. That opens remote health monitoring without bulky devices. Care providers should plan for patients sending richer data from home.
Restored feeling is a real market.
The skin could return a degree of sensation to amputees and burn victims. Medical device firms should follow the regulatory path closely. The prototype is still tubular, so practical products are still some way off.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Where could extra senses make our robots or workers safer?
- How would skin-like sensors change our remote care services?
- Which regulatory steps would a product like this face in our markets?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
As sensors and flexible electronics start to combine it opens up new amazing possibilities.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
Read full bio
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity programme, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- University of Connecticut uconn.edu
- research was published onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 11 October 2019. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2019). A new artificial human skin gives people spiderman like superpowers. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/a-new-artificial-human-skin-gives-people-spiderman-like-superpowers/
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