SINGAPORE, July 6 (Reuters) – Singapore scientists have established a clever foam product that allows robotics to pick up close-by objects, and repairs itself when damaged, much like human skin.Artificially innervated foam, or AiFoam, is an extremely elastic polymer produced by mixing fluoropolymer with a substance that reduces surface area tension.This enables the spongy material to fuse easily into one piece when cut, according to the researchers at the National University of Singapore.”There are numerous applications for such a material, particularly in robotics and prosthetic gadgets, where robotics require to be a lot more smart when working around humans,” described lead scientist Benjamin Tee.To reproduce the human sense of touch, the researchers infused the product with tiny metal particles and included small electrodes below the surface area of the foam.When pressure is applied, the metal particles draw closer within the polymer matrix, changing their electrical residential or commercial properties. These modifications can be spotted by the electrodes linked to a computer, which then informs the robotic what to do, Tee stated.”When I move my finger near the sensor, you can see the sensing unit is determining the changes of my electrical field and reacts appropriately to my touch,” he said.This feature allows the robotic hand to identify not only the quantity but also the instructions of applied force, possibly making robotics more intelligent and interactive.Tee said AiFoam is the very first of its kind to combine both self-healing residential or commercial properties and distance and pressure picking up. After investing over 2 years developing it, he and his team hope the product can be put to practical use within 5 years.”It can also enable prosthetic users to have more intuitive use of their robotic arms when grabbing objects,” he said.Reporting by Lee Ying Shan and Travis Teo; Writing by Xu Xiao; Editing by Karishma Singh and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.