Haifa Hobeika

The human skin, functioning as a large-area, multi-point, multi-modal, and flexible sensor, serves as inspiration for the development of electronic skin in robots, aimed at detecting pressure and thermal patterns simultaneously. With advancements in flexibility, electronic skin has transcended its initial use in robotics and expanded into next-generation wearable technologies for humans. This evolution has now reached a stage where ultra-thin semiconductor membranes can be directly attached to the skin. This seamless integration of electronics with human skin allows for continuous health monitoring over prolonged periods, facilitating personalized medical care. The ultimate goal of electronic skin is to non-invasively capture human activities in natural settings, fostering interactive synergy between electronic and human skin. In this presentation, I will discuss recent advancements in stretchable thin-film electronics, focusing on their applications in robotics and next-generation healthcare wearables. I will also address the challenges faced in this field and highlight the potential future prospects of electronic skin.