Highly stretchable electroluminescent skin for optical signaling and tactile sensing

TLDR

Cephalopod skins, such as those of octopuses, are highly flexible and contain pigment‑laden cells that enable rapid, detailed camouflage. The authors developed a stretchable electroluminescent actuator that can be highly stretched, emit light, and sense internal and external pressure, as demonstrated by a soft robot that stretched and illuminated while moving. Larson et al., Science, p.

Abstract

Make it stretch, make it glow The skins of some cephalopods, such as the octopus, are highly flexible and contain color-changing cells. These cells are loaded with pigments that enable rapid and detailed camouflaging abilities. Larson et al. developed a stretchable electroluminescent actuator. The material could be highly stretched, could emit light, and could also sense internal and external pressure. A soft robot demonstrated these combined capabilities by stretching and emitting light as it moved. Science , this issue p. 1071