Researchers aim to equip robots with "smart" skin

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Taiwan Machine Tool & Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA)

New antenna substrates in foil form

Antennas are usually also integrated into rigid microwave substrates. But alternatively, there are also materials that can be stretched, thus providing a high degree of flexibility. However, these flexible substrates have too high losses—they therefore do not achieve optimal performance in the high frequency range, as the measuring technique developed by Fraunhofer researchers has shown. Therefore, the conventional substrates available on the market are not as suitable. Based on the results achieved by FHR, new substrates are being developed at the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH), as we learn. Because the Institute for Applied Polymer Physics (IAPP) there synthesizes stretchable and potentially high-frequency suitable materials, relying on a mix of polymers and plastics with ceramic foreign particles. These are then tested at FHR during the course of the project. Based on the first results, an existing measuring setup is currently being optimized, expanded for other frequency bands, and the software for the final setup is being developed.

Another type of plastic is, as it is called, narrowly measured at FHR to determine the so-called loss angle—another step to gain insights into how robot systems could "feel" in the future.
(Image:Fraunhofer-FHR)

Also interesting for medicine and space travel

At the same time, the partners are investigating how deformations of the stretchable surfaces affect the properties in the near and far field. In the long term, self-calibrating metasurface antennas are planned, which recognize their curvature and shaping independently to ensure optimal signal reception and avoid communication problems. And the robotics described here is not the only field of application. Because medical technology and robotics could also be interested in it. There, metasurface antennas could help devices such as assistant robots to recognize gestures better and interact more with humans. Its use is also conceivable in the firefighting protective equipment or in spacesuits.

The project partners and supporters:

In addition to the Fraunhofer-FHR, six other partners from industry and research are involved in the project. These include the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS, EV Technologies, the Technical University of Hamburg, Université Catholique de Louvain, University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing, and L-up. The Belgian University UCLouvain coordinates the project, which is funded by the European Union under contract number 101098996.

This article was first published on our sister portal "MaschinenMarkt" (German Edition), Vogel Communications Group.

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Date: 08.12.2025

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Smart skin