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A vigorous handshake or a gentle caress? No great deal for the human hand. Fingertips are indeed able to precisely determine things down to a few milimeters only. At the same time, even small temperature differences are distinguished, which – especially in combination with pressure – is a very complex perception, as it cannot yet be imitated by technological systems.

Now, the research project FlexTak wants to put things right. Funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), its objective is to develop tiny sensors applied on a arrangement made of a special film, which eventually is coated with silicone afterwards. This way, an artificial sense organ will be created, with the size, shape and – above all – the sensitivity of a human fingertip.

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Practical applications are to be found in the field of modern robotics, where a whole new generation of highly sensitive grippers are expected. Another application area is the fast growing market for medical technology, where the highly innovative sensor-skin enables new pressure- and temperature-sensitive prostheses.