Electronic skins, or e-skins, are redefining the field of robotics, and have ushered in a new era of health innovation technologies by integrating ‘sense’ into prosthetics, and giving new potential to wearable devices for health monitoring. These e-skins may be flexible, stretchable and possess the ability to self-heal, but most importantly, they mimic the human sense of touch.
At the forefront of this field is Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from NUS Material Science and Engineering, N.1 Institute for Health and NUS iHealthtech. From the development of novel materials and devices, to the exploration of nano/micro fabrication techniques to create flexible and stretchable electronic sensor devices, Assoc Prof Tee is recognised for his work in developing various skin-like sensor systems.
His work includes the design of microstructures that enhance the mechanical sensitivity of thin elastic films. These are used in flexible pressure sensors. He has also developed an underwater-capable electronic material that can be used in emerging soft robots, stretchable electronics and electronic skins. More recently, he developed artificial mechanoreceptors that mimic the digital output of biological mechanoreceptors and could one day be used in neural prosthetic devices.
Assoc Prof Tee’s research group also created the world’s first underwater self-healing capable electronic sensor skin technology in the hope it can someday be used to provide mobile touchscreens, prosthetics and soft robotics the ability to “heal” or repair themselves. Currently, millions of tonnes of electronic waste is generated globally from broken mobile phones or tablets. Electronic devices made from e-skins with self-repair functions, could potentially reduce the amount of waste and enable greater environmental sustainability.
Assoc Prof Tee led a team from NUS Engineering in designing a wearable device that uses advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence to allow glaucoma patients to easily and painlessly monitor their condition at home. Their innovative e-skin for glaucoma monitoring received the James Dyson Award, the first time a Singapore-based team has won in its 17-year history.
Assoc Prof Tee currently leads the Sensor AI Systems Labs at NUS, a research programme established through the prestigious NRF Fellowship (NRFF) grant. This programme aims to discover and apply nanoscience to create intelligent materials, devices and systems.
A novel aero-elastic pressure sensor, ‘eAir’, that can be applied to minimally-invasive surgeries and implantable sensors with promised reliability and increased precision
A simple, convenient and effective way of monitoring wound recovery that allows timely clinical intervention to improve wound care and management.
AiFoam, a soft and sponge-like material, is the first smart foam that mimics the human sense of touch, senses nearby objects without touching, and repairs itself when damaged, potentially making robots more intelligent and interactive
Tan, Y. J., Susanto, G. J., Anwar Ali, H. P., & Tee, B. C. (2021). Progress and Roadmap for Intelligent Self‐Healing Materials in Autonomous Robotics. Advanced Materials, 33 (19), 2002800.
Tan, Y. J., Godaba, H., Chen, G., Tan, S. T. M., Wan, G., Li, G., ... & Tee, B. C. (2020). A transparent, self-healing and high-κ dielectric for low-field-emission stretchable optoelectronics. Nature materials, 19 (2), 182-188.
Lee, W. W., Tan, Y. J., Yao, H., Li, S., See, H. H., Hon, M., ... & Tee, B. C. (2019). A neuro-inspired artificial peripheral nervous system for scalable electronic skins. Science Robotics, 4 (32), eaax2198.
Cao, Y., Tan, Y. J., Li, S., Lee, W. W., Guo, H., Cai, Y., ... & Tee, B. C. K. (2019). Self-healing electronic skins for aquatic environments. Nature Electronics, 2 (2), 75-82.
Tee, B. C. K., Chortos, A., Berndt, A., Nguyen, A. K., Tom, A., McGuire, A., ... & Bao, Z. (2015). A skin-inspired organic digital mechanoreceptor. Science, 350 (6258), 313-316.
More Researchers