Revolutionary New Color-Based Sensor Mimics Sensitivity of Human Skin

The Reconfigurable Robotics Lab (RRL) at EPFL’s School of Engineering has achieved a significant breakthrough in sensor technology, introducing ChromoSense, a translucent rubber cylinder with red, green, and blue-dyed sections, which can detect multiple mechanical and temperature changes through color perception.

By combining LED technology with a miniaturized spectral meter, the device can perceive changes in light as it passes through its colored sections, responding to bending, stretching, compression, and temperature variations.

Lead researcher, Jamie Paik, has likened the sensor’s operation to drinking different flavored slushies through different straws, where the proportions of each flavor change as the straws are bent or twisted. Similarly, ChromoSense interprets changes in light as the geometry of the sections deforms. Its thermosensitive component utilizes a special dye that desaturates in color when heated, allowing the device to detect temperature changes.

This sensor technology has the potential to be applied in wearables, athletic gear, and assistive technologies such as exosuits. Unlike methods that rely on cameras or multiple sensors, ChromoSense offers targeted, information-dense readings without the need for extensive data processing.

However, the device’s ability to detect multiple stimuli simultaneously presents the challenge of decoupling those stimuli, which the researchers are currently addressing. They are also focused on enhancing the technology to sense locally applied forces and the precise boundaries of a material when it changes shape.

ChromoSense’s simple mechanical structure and use of color over cameras make it suitable for mass production, potentially revolutionizing the field of wearable technology. As the researchers continue to improve the technology, they also plan to experiment with different formats, further expanding the potential applications of this groundbreaking sensor.

In conclusion, the development of ChromoSense by the Reconfigurable Robotics Lab represents a significant step forward in sensor technology, with the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries. This breakthrough paves the way for an entirely new generation of wearable devices and assistive technologies, marking a significant advancement in the field of robotics.