In the past few years, we have covered plenty of advanced skins for robots. This eSkin is not only energy generating but has tactile sensing without a touch sensor. As the researchers explain:
The eSkin comprises a distributed array of miniaturized solar cells and infrared light emitting diodes (IRLEDs) on soft elastomeric substrate. By reading the variations in the energy output of the solar cells and IRLEDs, the eSkin could sense multiple parameters (proximity, object location, edge detection, etc.).
As you can see in the above video, this eSkin was attached to a 3D printed hand as a proof of concept. It could generate more than 100W if covered the whole body.
[HT]