# Elastic Electronics University of Tokyo Creates Sensor Packed Skins By Michael Plishka | Published 2009-05-18 | Updated 2009-05-21 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/highly-stretchable-conductive-materials-artificial-robotic-skins-and-curved References: [youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp9p1bQj8yU&feature=sdig&et=1242672981.93) Researchers at the [University of Tokyo](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picoring) have found a way to manufacture highly stretchable and yet conductive materials. While other conductive materials exist, none so far have the stretchiness or the non-variable conductivity that this material does. Using nanotechnology, this material can be stretched to almost double its length and can be used to boldly go where sensors were not able to go before. Not only does this material lend itself to creating [robotic artificial skins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skinsight) and [sensors for curved surfaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tactile-sensing), but it can also supply electronic power to these curved surfaces. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.3/10 - Popularity: 15% | Activity: 76% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Stretchable Sensors:** The development of stretchable and highly conductive nanotechnology material allows for the creation of stretchable sensors that can be used on curved surfaces, opening up new possibilities for applications. - **Robot Skin:** The ability to manufacture stretchable conductive material perfect for use on robotic artificial skins provides disruptive innovation opportunities for the robotics industry. - **Flexible Electronics:** The creation of a highly stretchable conductive material paves the way for new possibilities in the development of flexible electronics. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Robotics:** With the development of highly stretchable conductive material, the robotics industry can now create robotic artificial skins with applications in various fields such as medical, industrial, and military applications. - **Wearable Technology:** The development of stretchable sensors opens up new opportunities for wearable technology that can be applied on curved surfaces, improving accuracy and precision in data collection. - **Electronics Manufacturing:** The creation of a highly stretchable conductive material presents new possibilities in the development of flexible electronics, requiring electronics manufacturing to adapt to new materials and techniques. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Stretchable Sweat-Activated Yarn Batteries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yarn-battery.md) - [Ultra-Thin Stretchable Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lg.md) - [Reactive Robotic Textile Technologies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/motorskins-selk.md) - [Malleable Stretching Displays](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stretchable-display.md) - [Tunable Insulating Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squid-skin.md) - [Wearable Skin Sensors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hapsense.md) - [Comprehensive Tactile Sensing Infrastructure](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tactile-sensing-infrastructure.md) - [Efficient Energy Harvesting Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/efficient-energy-harvesting.md) - [Low-Energy Colorful Electronic Paper](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/eskin-anycolor.md)