Peratech Limited, the
leader in new materials designed for touch technology solutions, has announced
that they have been commissioned by the MIT Media Lab to develop a new type
of electronic 'skin' that enables robotic devices to detect not only that they
have been touched but also where and how hard the touch was.
The key to the sensing technology is Peratech's patented 'QTC' materials.
QTC's, or Quantum Tunnelling Composites, are a unique new material type which
provides a measured response to force and/or touch by changing its electrical
resistance - much as a dimmer light switch controls a light bulb. This enables
a simple electronic circuit within the robot to determine touch. Being easily
formed into unique shapes - including being 'draped' over an object much like
a garment might, QTC's provide a metaphor for how human skin works to detect
touch.
Uniquely, QTC's provide a 'proportional' response - in other words detecting
'how hard' they have been touched. Further, using Peratech's patented xy scanning
technology, the robot is able to detect where on a matrix of sensors applied
to areas such as the forearms, shoulders and torso, it has been touched.
As robotic devices continue to make inroads to our daily life, their ability
to understand the presence and interaction with humans and other objects within
a space becomes critically important. This research project is hoped to produce
results which could soon be applied to a range of robotics projects that MIT
works upon.
Peratech's QTC technology has an established track record for use in robotics,
having previously been adopted by NASA for their Robonaut device and by Shadow
Robot in the UK, producers of what is widely regarded as the World's most advanced
robotic hand, which have utilised QTC to sense 'touch'. However, this project
with MIT is a World first in enabling a human to interact - through touch across
the body of a robot - much as they would with another human.
About QTC
QTC's are electro-active polymeric materials made from metallic or non-metallic
filler particles combined in an elastomeric binder. These enable the action
of 'touch' to be translated into an electrical reaction, enabling a vast array
of devices to incorporate very thin and highly robust 'sensing' of touch and
pressure. QTC's unique properties enable it to be made into force sensitive
switches of any shape or size. QTC switches and switch matrices can be screen
printed allowing for development and integration of switches that are as thin
as 75 microns.
QTC is also low power and interfaces can be designed with no start resistance
so that without pressure, the switch draws no power and passes no current. Importantly,
when pressure is applied, the resistance drops in proportion to the amount of
pressure which allows sophisticated human machine interface designs that react
to variations in pressure. QTC technology has no moving parts and requires no
air gap between contacts. This makes it extremely reliable and suitable for
integration into the thinnest electronic designs and with industry leading operational
life.
About Peratech
Peratech is the inventor and world leader in Quantum Tunnelling Composite (QTC)
technology. Already widely used in robotics and defence, Peratech commercialised
its QTC technology at the beginning of 2006 and is currently working with a
number of key technology clients who are implementing QTC sensing technology
within their own products.
QTC materials give enormous flexibility in the design, shape, thickness and
style of a switch or pressure sensor and can be made in a range of elastomeric
forms, including emulsive coatings (down to thicknesses of 10 microns), 'bulk'
silicone or rubber and textile forms. Peratech pioneered the creation of electronic
switches made from textiles as early as 2001. QTC has been recognised through
numerous International awards and accolades including "Tomorrow's
World Industry Award 2002", "Saatchi & Saatchi Innovation Award
2000" and "European Electronics Industry Award 2004".
QTC materials have been used by organisations such as NASA, ILC Dover, Shadow
Robotics and numerous government agencies World Wide. Peratech also owns SOFTswitch
the pioneering creator of textile switching and Eleksen, the world leader in
touch sensitive interactive textiles for electronics interface design.
Posted February 22nd, 2010
