On the Problem of the Automated Design of Large-Scale Robot Skin

This paper describes automated procedures for the design and deployment of artificial skin for humanoid robots. This problem is challenging under different perspectives: on the one hand, different robots are characterized by different shapes, thereby requiring a high degree of skin customization; on the other hand, it is necessary to define optimal criteria specifying how the skin must be placed on robot parts. This paper addresses the problem of optimally covering robot parts with tactile sensors, discussing possible solutions with reference to a specific artificial skin technology for robots, which has been developed in the past few years. Results show that it is possible to automate the majority of the required steps, with promising results in view of a future complete automation of the process.