Smart Skin Enhances Robotics Sensing Abilities

Advancements in robotics are paving the way for more seamless interactions between humans and machines. This progress hinges on improvements in comfort, convenience, and communication capabilities. To achieve this, robots must possess the ability to anticipate human actions and understand intentions. This is where flexible metamaterials, particularly flat metasurface antennas with integrated electronics, play a crucial role. The Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHR, in collaboration with six partners in the EU’s FITNESS project, is spearheading the development of these innovative surfaces.

The concept behind the FITNESS project involves equipping robots with metasurface antennas that function as adaptive, intelligent skins. These antennas enable robots to scan their immediate surroundings with enhanced precision, facilitating more effective communication with their base stations located in the far field. By leveraging these advanced technologies, robots can operate more autonomously and efficiently, leading to significant improvements in various industries where human-robot collaboration is essential.

Worker safety is a top priority in the realm of human-machine interactions. The FITNESS project addresses this concern by focusing on optimizing communication and interaction between humans and machines through intelligent antenna solutions. The innovative electromagnetic metamaterial surfaces with integrated electronics, including flexible and stretchable metasurface antennas, are designed to revolutionize near-field sensing capabilities. By enhancing the robots' ability to scan their surroundings, these antennas not only boost human safety but also enhance the overall performance of the robots.

Collaboration is at the core of the FITNESS project, with Fraunhofer FHR leading the initiative alongside six other partners from both industry and the research sector. The project brings together expertise from institutions such as the French National Centre for Scientific Research, eV-Technologies, Hamburg University of Technology, Université catholique de Louvain, University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and L-up. Coordinated by UCLouvain in Belgium and funded by the European Union, the project aims to push the boundaries of human-machine interaction through cutting-edge antenna technology.

The metasurface antennas developed as part of the project are not only technologically advanced but also highly adaptable. Integrated into film-like substrates, these flat antennas can conform to the contours of a robot, effectively wrapping around it like a second skin. This flexibility allows the antennas to bend and stretch, offering versatility in their placement on the robot. Referred to as "smart skins," these antennas have the unique ability to scan the near-field environment, detect movement, and engage in radio-based communication with base stations, setting a new standard in human-robot collaboration.