Image of Stretchable Optical Fibers.
A flexible, porous lattice structure is threaded with stretchable optical fibers containing more than a dozen mechanosensors and attached to an LED light. When the lattice structure is pressed, the sensors pinpoint changes in the photon flow.

A synthetic optical lace developed by a Cornell Ph.D. student creates a linked sensory network similar to a biological nervous system. The flexible, porous lattice structure is manufactured from 3D-printed polyurethane with a core that is threaded with stretchable optical fibers containing more than a dozen mechanosensors. An LED light illuminates the fiber.

The optical lace is not a skin coating for robots; it is more like the flesh itself. Robots fitted with the material would be better suited for the healthcare industry, specifically beginning-of-life and end-of-life care.

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