Engineering Fellowships for Growth: Printable Tactile Skin
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Engineering
Abstract
The societal needs such as helping elderly and rapid technological advances have transformed robotics in recent years. Making robots autonomous and at the same time able to interact safely with real world objects is desired in order to extend their range of applications to highly interactive tasks such as caring for the elderly. However, attaining robots capable of doing such tasks is challenging as the environmental model they often use is incomplete, which underlines the importance of sensors to obtain information at a sufficient rate to deal with external change. In robotics, the sensing modality par excellence so far has been vision in its multiple forms, for example lasers, or simply stereoscopic arrangements of conventional cameras. On other hand the animal world uses a wider variety of sensory modalities. The tactile/touch sensing is particularly important as many of the interactive tasks involve physical contact which carry precious information that is exploited by biological brains and ought to be exploited by robots to ensure adaptive behaviour. However, the absence of suitable tactile skin technology makes this task difficult.
PRINTSKIN will develop a robust ultra-flexible tactile skin and endow state-of-the-art robotic hand with the tactile skin and validate the skin by using tactile information from large areas of robot hands to handle daily object with different curvatures. The tactile skin will be benchmarked against available semi-rigid skins such as iCub skin from EU project ROBOSKIN and Hex-O-Skin. The skin will be validated on at least two different industrial robotic hands (Shadow Hand and i-Limb) that are used in dexterous manipulation and prosthetics.
The robust ultra-thin tactile skin will be developed using an innovative methodology involving printing of high-mobility materials such as silicon on ultra-flexible substrates such as polyimide. The tactile skin will have solid-state sensors (touch, temperature) and electronics printed on ultra-flexible substrates such as polyimide. The silicon-nanowires based ultra-thin active-matrix electronics in the backplane will be covered with a replaceable soft transducer layer. Integration of electronic and sensing modules on a foil or as stack of foils will be explored. 'Truly bottom-up approach' is the distinguishing feature of PRINTSKIN methodology as the development of tactile skin will begin with atom by atom synthesis of nanowires and finish with the development of tactile skin system - much like the way nature uses proteins and macromolecules to construct complex biological systems. This new technological platform to print tactile skin will enable an entirely new generation of high-performance and cost-effective systems on flexible substrates. Fabrication by printing will have important implications for cost-effective integration over large areas and on nonconventional substrates, such as plastic or paper. Printing of high-performance electronics is also appealing for mask-less approach, reduced material wastage, and scalability to large area. The proposed programme thus has the potential to emulate yet another revolution in the electronics industry and trigger transformation in various sectors including, robotics, healthcare, and wearable electronics.
PRINTSKIN will develop a robust ultra-flexible tactile skin and endow state-of-the-art robotic hand with the tactile skin and validate the skin by using tactile information from large areas of robot hands to handle daily object with different curvatures. The tactile skin will be benchmarked against available semi-rigid skins such as iCub skin from EU project ROBOSKIN and Hex-O-Skin. The skin will be validated on at least two different industrial robotic hands (Shadow Hand and i-Limb) that are used in dexterous manipulation and prosthetics.
The robust ultra-thin tactile skin will be developed using an innovative methodology involving printing of high-mobility materials such as silicon on ultra-flexible substrates such as polyimide. The tactile skin will have solid-state sensors (touch, temperature) and electronics printed on ultra-flexible substrates such as polyimide. The silicon-nanowires based ultra-thin active-matrix electronics in the backplane will be covered with a replaceable soft transducer layer. Integration of electronic and sensing modules on a foil or as stack of foils will be explored. 'Truly bottom-up approach' is the distinguishing feature of PRINTSKIN methodology as the development of tactile skin will begin with atom by atom synthesis of nanowires and finish with the development of tactile skin system - much like the way nature uses proteins and macromolecules to construct complex biological systems. This new technological platform to print tactile skin will enable an entirely new generation of high-performance and cost-effective systems on flexible substrates. Fabrication by printing will have important implications for cost-effective integration over large areas and on nonconventional substrates, such as plastic or paper. Printing of high-performance electronics is also appealing for mask-less approach, reduced material wastage, and scalability to large area. The proposed programme thus has the potential to emulate yet another revolution in the electronics industry and trigger transformation in various sectors including, robotics, healthcare, and wearable electronics.
Planned Impact
PRINTSKIN will develop tactile skin that will be critical to enable future robots to engage in highly interactive tasks such as caring for the elderly. Feedback from the tactile skin project will shape the way society interacts with robotic devices as robots will be able to gather rich contact information and think, act, and react like humans. The impacts of this multidisciplinary research will be seen in academia, public sector, industry, social enterprises, general public, schools and more.
Near-term, the tactile skin will result in new research foci in robotics allowing multiple contact points or contacts from the whole body to be exploited to carry out manipulation tasks in cluttered environments. Tactile skin will enable neuroscientists to understand the functioning of receptors in human skin. Together with ultra-thin bendable electronics implanted in the brain, tactile skin will enable in long-term the neural control of artificial limbs and new biomimetic technologies. Equipped with tactile skin the robots will be safe interactive learning tools that stimulate the imagination of children. For example, due to lack of emotions in robots autistic children find robots less threatening than their teachers and easier to engage with. We will see quick benefits of tactile skin in areas such as teleoperation where tactile feedback enables extension of feelings. Similarly, the impact in surgery will be quick as surgical instruments covered with ultra-thin tactile skin will allow surgeons to feel tissues inside a patient's body - eventually improving diagnostics and monitoring capabilities. I believe in the long-term, the ultra-flexible tactile skin will bestow sensory feeling to prosthetic limbs and improve lives of amputees.
PRINTSKIN will also bring about profound impact through the new printing methodology for the tactile skin, which will result in a new generation of high-performance and cost-effective flexible electronics. The paradigm of electronics manufacturing and prototyping will change with small-scale manufacturing, capable of printing high-performance circuits straight from the computer, replacing the large manufacturing centres based overseas. The cost reduction will have enormous impact on schemes such as barcodes to track objects in supermarkets. The possibility to develop identity tags (e.g. RFIDs) with performance on par with Si and cost on par with existing barcodes will drive replacement of some 15 trillion barcodes in existence today. This will significantly boost new areas such as the internet of things and big data, where tools such as RFID will be needed to wirelessly track objects. The technology affordability could lead to changes in policies e.g. taxation system of UK could be based on real-time data collected from RFIDs attached to consumed products. With reduced electronic waste, printing methods are also environment friendly. If appropriate advances can be made to make printed electronics a commercial reality, this will open up the field to a new skill base in the printing community who would not normally associate themselves with electronics.
There is significant gain in printing of high-performance devices, as many new applications which will almost inevitably - by virtue of ever-demanding end-user - supersede the solid-state IC, just as the IC replaced discrete circuit board electronics. These include intelligent packaging, conformal electronics (e.g. in automotive applications), wearable electronics, smart windows including antenna for wireless communications, medical sensors and inorganic thin film solar cells. There is great potential in the UK to establish companies based on such end products. Summarising, PRINTSKIN has the potential to start another revolution in microelectronics and will trigger transformations in robotics and similar areas.
Near-term, the tactile skin will result in new research foci in robotics allowing multiple contact points or contacts from the whole body to be exploited to carry out manipulation tasks in cluttered environments. Tactile skin will enable neuroscientists to understand the functioning of receptors in human skin. Together with ultra-thin bendable electronics implanted in the brain, tactile skin will enable in long-term the neural control of artificial limbs and new biomimetic technologies. Equipped with tactile skin the robots will be safe interactive learning tools that stimulate the imagination of children. For example, due to lack of emotions in robots autistic children find robots less threatening than their teachers and easier to engage with. We will see quick benefits of tactile skin in areas such as teleoperation where tactile feedback enables extension of feelings. Similarly, the impact in surgery will be quick as surgical instruments covered with ultra-thin tactile skin will allow surgeons to feel tissues inside a patient's body - eventually improving diagnostics and monitoring capabilities. I believe in the long-term, the ultra-flexible tactile skin will bestow sensory feeling to prosthetic limbs and improve lives of amputees.
PRINTSKIN will also bring about profound impact through the new printing methodology for the tactile skin, which will result in a new generation of high-performance and cost-effective flexible electronics. The paradigm of electronics manufacturing and prototyping will change with small-scale manufacturing, capable of printing high-performance circuits straight from the computer, replacing the large manufacturing centres based overseas. The cost reduction will have enormous impact on schemes such as barcodes to track objects in supermarkets. The possibility to develop identity tags (e.g. RFIDs) with performance on par with Si and cost on par with existing barcodes will drive replacement of some 15 trillion barcodes in existence today. This will significantly boost new areas such as the internet of things and big data, where tools such as RFID will be needed to wirelessly track objects. The technology affordability could lead to changes in policies e.g. taxation system of UK could be based on real-time data collected from RFIDs attached to consumed products. With reduced electronic waste, printing methods are also environment friendly. If appropriate advances can be made to make printed electronics a commercial reality, this will open up the field to a new skill base in the printing community who would not normally associate themselves with electronics.
There is significant gain in printing of high-performance devices, as many new applications which will almost inevitably - by virtue of ever-demanding end-user - supersede the solid-state IC, just as the IC replaced discrete circuit board electronics. These include intelligent packaging, conformal electronics (e.g. in automotive applications), wearable electronics, smart windows including antenna for wireless communications, medical sensors and inorganic thin film solar cells. There is great potential in the UK to establish companies based on such end products. Summarising, PRINTSKIN has the potential to start another revolution in microelectronics and will trigger transformations in robotics and similar areas.
Organisations
- University of Glasgow (Lead Research Organisation)
- Nuprint Technologies Ltd (Collaboration)
- Arm Limited (Collaboration)
- McGill University (Collaboration)
- Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) (Collaboration)
- Touch Bionics (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- FONDAZIONE BRUNO KESSLER (Collaboration)
- Safilo Group (Collaboration)
- I&J Media Limited (Collaboration)
- Tata Consultancy Services (Collaboration)
- Shadow Robot Company (Collaboration)
- Shadow Robot (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
Publications



Bhattacharjee M
(2019)
Microdroplet Based Organic Vapour Sensor on a Disposable GO-Chitosan Flexible Substrate

Bhattacharjee M
(2020)
Microdroplet based disposable sensor patch for detection of a-amylase in human blood serum.
in Biosensors & bioelectronics

Bhattacharjee M
(2020)
PEDOT:PSS Microchannel-Based Highly Sensitive Stretchable Strain Sensor
in Advanced Electronic Materials

Bhattacharjee M
(2020)
Disposable and Flexible Sensor Patch for a-amylase Detection in Human Blood Serum

Bhattacharjee M
(2020)
Microdroplet-Based Organic Vapour Sensor on a Disposable GO-Chitosan Flexible Substrate
in IEEE Sensors Journal


Christou A
(2021)
Pseudo-Hologram with Aerohaptic Feedback for Interactive Volumetric Displays
in Advanced Intelligent Systems

Christou A
(2020)
Assessing the Stability of Printed NWs by in situ SEM Characterisation
Description | I developed a new low-cost method for obtaining graphene on large areas. I am now using this technique to advance the e-skin research. This result is in addition to what is expected to be achieved from this project. I have also submitted a patent application for internal review by the University IP office. I also reported first energy autonomous e-skin and patent application for this work has been submitted. Novel method for 3D printing of multi-materials for affordable prosthetics with embedded touch sensing. Novel flexible supercapacitors for energy autonomous e-skin |
Exploitation Route | The e-skin work can be extended to new areas such as large area neuromophic computing hardware (e.g. rollable computers). The eSkin is useful for tactile feedback in robotics and prosthetics and it will be useful or safe human-robot interaction capabilities and in areas such as haptics and tactile internet or tactile communication. Sustainable electronics or ICT is another important direction. |
Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Agriculture Food and Drink Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Electronics Energy Environment Healthcare Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Culture Heritage Museums and Collections Retail Transport |
URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/engineering/research/divisions/ene/researchthemes/micronanotechnology/best/#tabs-2 |
Description | Findings from this project have been used in many public engagement and knowledge exchange activities. The research has led to more projects including extension of fellowship, programme grant and funded projects by industry. Recently ARM has supported iCase phd studentship and currently there are discussions going on in terms of spin off. |
First Year Of Impact | 2017 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Electronics,Energy,Healthcare,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | 'Hetero-print': A holistic approach to transfer-printing for heterogeneous integration in manufacturing |
Amount | £5,541,651 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R03480X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2018 |
End | 05/2024 |
Description | (AQUASENSE) - Innovative Network for Training in wAter and Food QUality monitoring using Autonomous SENSors and IntelligEnt Data Gathering and Analysis |
Amount | € 4,064,539 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 813680 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 09/2018 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | (INTUITIVE) - INnovative Network for Training in ToUch InteracTIVE Interfaces |
Amount | € 4,156,300 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 861166 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | (NeuTouch) - Understanding neural coding of touch as enabling technology for prosthetics and robotics |
Amount | € 4,108,695 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 813713 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 03/2019 |
End | 02/2023 |
Description | Chancellor's Fund |
Amount | £6,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2015 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Chancellor's Fund |
Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 05/2018 |
Description | DTP 2016-2017 University of Glasgow |
Amount | £6,095,718 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/N509668/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | EPSRC - Impact Acceleration Account Award |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2015 |
End | 09/2015 |
Description | EPSRC - Impact Acceleration Account Award |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 08/2016 |
Description | EPSRC - Impact Acceleration Account Award |
Amount | £16,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2015 |
End | 08/2016 |
Description | Engineering Fellowship for Growth - Neuromorphic Printed Tactile Skin (NeuPRINTSKIN) (Ext) |
Amount | £1,069,413 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R029644/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2018 |
End | 08/2022 |
Description | Global Challenge |
Amount | £39,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Government of Scotland |
Department | Scottish Funding Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2017 |
End | 06/2017 |
Description | Ingenios Award |
Amount | £10,400 (GBP) |
Organisation | Royal Academy of Engineering |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2016 |
End | 05/2017 |
Description | Lord Kelvin Adam Smith Scholarship |
Amount | £150,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2015 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Marie Curie Fellowship |
Amount | € 200,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | H2020-MSCA-IF-2016-753663 |
Organisation | European Union |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 10/2019 |
Description | Marie Curie Fellowship |
Amount | € 200,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | H2020-MSCA-IF-2015-704807 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 04/2018 |
Description | NPIF EPSRC Doctoral - University of Glasgow 2017 |
Amount | £1,025,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R512266/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2017 |
End | 09/2021 |
Description | Newton International Fellowship |
Amount | £66,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 10/2018 |
Description | Next Generation Energy Autonomous Textile Fabrics based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators |
Amount | £1,500,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/V003380/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2025 |
Description | North West Centre for Advanced Manufacturing |
Amount | € 9,000,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | H2020-Intereg-IVA5055 |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | PhD Studentship |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/L016753/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | Predictive Haptic COding Devices In Next Generation interfaces |
Amount | € 4,000,000 (EUR) |
Funding ID | H2020-FETOPEN-2018- 829186 |
Organisation | European Commission H2020 |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 01/2019 |
End | 09/2022 |
Description | Royal Society Grant |
Amount | £15,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | UK Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Hub for Offshore Energy Asset Integrity Management |
Amount | £15,223,235 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/R026173/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 04/2022 |
Description | UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training in Socially Intelligent Artificial Agents |
Amount | £5,000,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/S02266X/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2020 |
End | 09/2024 |
Title | New method for low-cost production of large area graphene |
Description | We demonstrated low-cost production of high quality graphene over large areas. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | the low cost production of graphene has stimulated discussion with many industrial partners from various sectors. Currently we have signed NDAs with 4 companies to develop new applications with them. |
URL | http://www.nature.com/articles/srep16744 |
Description | ARM Collaboration |
Organisation | Arm Limited |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Leading the fellowship research. |
Collaborator Contribution | Regular scientific exchanges about new directions for fellowship research and hosting of researchers. |
Impact | Several papers published as part of fellowship. ARM has been supporting the annual IEEE international conference (Flexible Printable Sensors and Systems) which founded in 2019. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration with McGill University on disposable sensors for digital agriculture |
Organisation | McGill University |
Country | Canada |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | participated in proposal writing and fabrication of sensors. |
Collaborator Contribution | Led the proposal for visiting as fellow. |
Impact | none yet |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | I and J Media Ltd T/A The Basement |
Organisation | I&J Media Limited |
Country | Ireland |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We made proof-of concept transparent touch screen for the company. |
Collaborator Contribution | Company funded the proof of concept study. |
Impact | proof-of-concept prototype provided to the company |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Industry Collaboration |
Organisation | Safilo Group |
Department | Polaroid |
Country | Global |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | depositing thin layer of electronic material on flexible substrate and investigating polarization properties. |
Collaborator Contribution | validation and testing at labs of partner. In-part support towards consumables. |
Impact | multidisciplinary collaboration - flexible electronics, nanotechnology, optics |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Industry Collaboration |
Organisation | Shadow Robot Company |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Development of advanced tactile skin |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to shadow hands for validation and testing |
Impact | multidisciplinary collaboration - flexible electronics and robotics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Industry Collaboration |
Organisation | Touch Bionics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | electronics skin development |
Collaborator Contribution | access to lab for validation of skin on prosthetics hands |
Impact | multidisciplinary collaboration - flexible electronics, prosthetics |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | Industry Collaboration - Nuprint |
Organisation | Nuprint Technologies Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | I am supervising the team of researchers (2 postdocs + 2 PhDs) who are working on projects finalised after discussions with Nuprint. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to the manufacturing unit or researchers to have first hand knowledge about printing of labels and supply of some inks. |
Impact | We have published 5 journal articles based on the work with Nuprint. Currently an IP application is being discussed. |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Joint PhD supervision with Industry |
Organisation | Touch Bionics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Joint Phd supervision. Inputs on sensory hardware for prosthetics |
Collaborator Contribution | Phd funded by the partner. Access to their facility for validation and testing. |
Impact | multidisciplinary collaboration - prosthetics, flexible electronics |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | PhD Studentship - BMW |
Organisation | Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW) |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Supervising an international PhD student fully funded by BMW. |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding for the PhD student and access to labs in Munich. |
Impact | no output as yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PhD Studentship - Tata |
Organisation | Tata Consultancy Services |
Country | India |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Supervising a PhD student, whose tuition fee is partly covered by Tata consultancy services. |
Collaborator Contribution | Funding for student and access to their lab and computing facilities during secondments of student. |
Impact | no outcome yet. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | PhD co-supervision |
Organisation | Fondazione Bruno Kessler |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Supervision of 4 PhD students enrolled at University of Glasgow. |
Collaborator Contribution | Co-supervision of 4 PhD students. In part support for the tuition fee of these 4 PhD students. |
Impact | This collaboration has resulted in many scientific publications (some of which are included in publication section). |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | PhD supportv- Shadow |
Organisation | Shadow Robot Company |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We are developing new robotic hand with embedded touch sensing. |
Collaborator Contribution | Shadow Robot Company is sharing the design of Shadow Hand and we are updating it with embedded touch sensors. |
Impact | 1 International Conference Paper |
Start Year | 2018 |
Title | DISPLAY APPARATUS, CONTROLLER THEREFOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME |
Description | This invention relates to a display apparatus, a controller for a display apparatus and a method of controlling a display apparatus. The display apparatus included a display arranged to display a source image; at least one screen arranged in front of said display such that the projection of the image and its reflection by the screen causes a holographic image of a three-dimensional object to be displayed to a user viewing said screen from a position that is neither perpendicular to nor parallel to the plane of said screen; a position detection apparatus for detecting the position of a part of a user's body in proximity to said holographic image or to said screen and to generate position information relating to said detected position; an air source arranged to direct air to one or more locations in proximity to said screen; and a controller arranged to receive position information from the position detection apparatus and to control the air source so as to direct air in accordance with said received position information so as to provide sensory feedback to the detected part of the user's body. In this manner a user can be enabled to manipulate a holographic image using their hands or other body parts and to receive sensory feedback, particularly touch, hardness and/or temperature feedback from their interaction. |
IP Reference | WO2019207008 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2019 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | currently licensing options are being worked out, One innovateUK grant was funded (under icure programme) to explore market for this work. |
Title | SENSOR AND DEVICES INCORPORATING SENSORS |
Description | This invention relates to a touch sensor having a layered structure, the layers including: a substrate; and a touch-sensitive layer formed of single-layer graphene and having a plurality of coplanar electrodes formed therein. Embodiments of the touch sensor are flexible and stretchable, making them suitable for use as an artificial skin. Further embodiments of the touch sensor are also capable of sensing pressure as well as touch. Further embodiments are substantially transparent and can therefore include a photovoltaic layer under the touch-sensitive layer which can provide a degree of energy autonomy. Further aspects of the invention provide prosthetic devices having such touch sensors forming a sensitive skin, and a method of manufacturing a touch sensor wherein interdigitated electrodes are cut in single-layer graphene by a blade-cutting process. |
IP Reference | WO2018150018 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | some companies have already contacted us and discussion are underway for licensing. |
Title | THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE WITH SENSOR CAPABILITY |
Description | This invention relates to a device for sensing interaction with its surrounding environment, the device including: a plurality of sensing points (11); a plurality of detectors (12), each associated with one of said sensing points (11) and located remotely therefrom; a plurality of channels (14) which connect said sensing points (11) to said detectors (12) and provide a communication pathway therebetween; and communication media filling the channels, wherein each detector (12) is in communication with the associated sensing point or points (11) through one of said channels (14) and the medium in said channel (14) is arranged to transmit, transfer or transduce an interaction of the sensing point (11) with its surrounding environment to the detector (12) through the channel (14). The invention also relates to prosthetics which incorporate such devices. The devices according to the present aspect integrate sensing points and sensors within the structure of the device rather than adding an extra sensing layer to the structure and can overcome the traditional problems associated with the wiring when providing sensors on a robot arm or prosthetic. |
IP Reference | WO2018210731 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2018 |
Licensed | Commercial In Confidence |
Impact | This work is being used by Shadow Robot Company to advance the design of robotic hands. Shadow robotics has provided some research support for this purpose. Currently we are discussing the ways to transfer the technology. |
Description | 12 Invited Lectures in 2019, including 2 Keynote Lectures and 1 Plenary talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | In 2019, I gave 12 invited talks (some are planned) and this includes 2 Keynote lectures and 1 Plenary Lecture. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | 18 Invited talks in 2017, Including 8 Plenary/Keynote Lectures |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 18 Invited talks in 2017, Including 8 Plenary/Keynote Lectures |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 25 Invited Talks in 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 25 invited talks in several countries, including 2 Keynote lectures in International Conferences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Article "Explainer: what is electronic skin?" in The Conversation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to write this news article by The Conversation. Many media groups contacted me after publication of this article to know more about the electronic skin. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-electronic-skin-26930 |
Description | CPD Lecture at Scottish Schools Education Research Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | This CPD Lecture (on Electronic Touch) was organised by Scottish Schools Education Research Centre for teachers from Schools. The talk sparked discussion around more such lectures and teachers reported increased interest in organising such lectures in schools. Recently funding from Royal Academy of Engineering will allow me to achieve this. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | http://www.sserc.org.uk/index.php/cpd-roundup |
Description | CPD event at Scottish Schools Education Research Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I was invited by Scottish Schools Education Research Centre for a CPD event for teachers from various Scottish Schools. The lecture during this CPD event initiated discussion on enriching STEM courses by including the subject area presented in my lecture. This event also led to plan for further engagements with schools (going to schools) and I also secured funding from Royal Academy of Engineering for this purpose. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.sserc.org.uk/index.php/cpd-roundup |
Description | Demonstration at Explorathon - European Researchers Night |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Some of the research prototypes were demonstrated on this European researchers night day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk |
Description | Engagement with pupils in Schools |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | We developed simple touch screen prototypes and took them to 15 Scottish schools. More than 500 students, and Teachers benefited from this project. Project was run in collaboration with Scottish Schools Education Research Centre (SSERC) and Glasgow Science Centre. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Explorathon - European Researchers Night, Glasgow Science Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | My team was selected to present our research at Exploration - European Researchers Night (funded by European Commission). More than 200 visitors (general public, kids, pupils from schools etc.) visited our booth and gained from the demos related to touch based prosthetics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.explorathon.co.uk/glasgow |
Description | Featured in 'Scotland is Now' Campaign |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was selected by Visit Scotland team to be part of Scottish Governments new Global Campaign 'Scotland is Now' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.scotland.org/about-scotland/our-people/people-films/ravinder-dahiya |
Description | Global Leadership Board meeting of Weir Group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Research brief on Future felxible Electronics and electronic skin during Global Leadership Board meeting of Weir Group Plc |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | ITU seminar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Online panel discussion on tactile sensing in robotics - organised by ITU (United Nations). The panel had 5 international experts. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Ingenious Public Engagement Award |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | The award funded by Royal Academy of Engineering supports 7 engineers (including myself) from my group who are visiting (this is an ongoing activity) 15 schools in Scotland to explain the working of various touch screen interfaces (including flexible/bendable interfaces) which we developed in lab through support from EPSRC impact acceleration account. After completion of school visits, the prototypes are to be placed in Glasgow Science Centre. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Interview in BBC Radio 'NewsDrive' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The key aspect of electronic skin research were shared with public through this interview. Also future plans were discussed. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Invited to the 2016 Medical Devices Outward Mission to Taiwan by British Office in Taiwan |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This business group (I also led the group on final day of the ) on biomedical sector involved 4 academic and industry members from UK who visited many Taiwanese institutes over 3 days. The group visited 2 universities, more than 10 companies and ITRI, a leading institute in Hsinchu Science park, which acts as a bridge between academia and industry in Taiwan. The visit was organised by Foreign and Commonwealth Office through its British Office's Science and Innovation network in Taiwan. The interaction (involving lecturers, one-to-one meetings, industry visits etc.) led to follow up discussions and potential collaborations are being discussed now. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-science-and-innovation-network |
Description | Live Demo of Upper Limb Prosthetic Control Using Gestures, at IEEE Sensors Conference, Busan, S. Korea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | We were invited to the 'Live-demo' session to present a demo of our research (which was presented at IEEE Sensors Conference in a separate session). The gestures based control of prosthetic hand sparked interesting discussions and many researchers contacted us after the demo for potential collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://ieee-sensors2015.org |
Description | Live interview on BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was invited for live interview on BBC Radio 'Good Morning Scotland' on 20 Nov, 2015. This was about sharing how electronic skin would improve prosthetics and robotics. Following this interview I was also invited by BBC to participate in Channel 4 flagship science programme 'Inside Science'. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06ns0hv |
Description | National Science Museum's Antenna programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to participate in National Science Museum's commentary on their display related to tactile skin technology. This was part of Science Museum's Antenna programme |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | New student club on 3D printed smart prosthetics |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | The club named 'Helping Hands' has brought together around 50 undergraduate and postgraduate students around the topic of 3D printed prosthetics (with touch enabled parts). The seed funding (£6K) for the club was obtained from Chancellors' fund through open competition. Following the formation of club I also received another £12K from EPSRC impact acceleration account to ensure sustainability and reach of this club. I am now working with NHS and a charitable trust (having presence in 31 countries) to provide students club a much wider reach. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.gla.ac.uk/about/givingtoglasgow/chancellorsfund/ |
Description | Panel Discussion, London Book Fair |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | More than 400 people attended the discussion focussing on Cambridge Elements on Flexible and Large Area Electronics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk |
Description | Participated in the PassWord program of Resonance FM London |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited for an interview on the PassWord program of Resonance FM London. The interview stimulated a healthy discussion around electronic skin, robotics, potential impact on humans, including ethics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
URL | https://www.resonancefm.com |
Description | Participation to Channel 4's 'inside Science' programme |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Invited to participate in BBC Channel 4's flagship science programme 'Inside Science'. The panel involved experts on graphene from academia (including noble laureate) and industry. My involvement sparked discussion on new application areas (e.g. electronic skin in robotics) for Graphene. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06qml0r |
Description | Public Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public Lecture invited by the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://rsdahiya.com/media/keynoteinvited-talks/ |
Description | Public Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Curious Minds, public lecture, Perth, UK, Dec 2018. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | http://www.culturepk.org.uk/whats-on/curious-minds-prof-ravinder-dahiya-glasgow-a-sense-of-touch/ |
Description | Queen's Birthday Event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Queen's Birthday Event, UK Embassy Lisbon, Portugal |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Question of Science - Quiz |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | In recognition with my significant participation in the knowledge exchange activities, I was invited to join Glasgow University table at the Question of Science - annual Quiz competition organised by Glasgow Science Centre. Our team was the winner. About 30 teams (each with 8-10 members) participated in this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.glasgowsciencecentre.org/events-by-gsc/previous-events-a-question-of-science.html |
Description | Research Coverage on TV documentary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Video by Forces 360, highlighting the overall research in the field of affordable prosthetics and e-skin. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
URL | http://videos.forces.tv/detail/videos/must-watch/video/5712695350001/forces-360---series-2:-episode-... |
Description | TEDx Glasgow talk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to speak at TEDx Glasgow. This was about tactile skin in robotics and prosthetics. I also presented key aspects of my grant. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.tedxglasgow.com |
Description | TV Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview of Foro TV (Mexico) about e-skin and prosthetics. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://noticieros.televisa.com/videos/piel-electronica/ |