Page 11 - Envision January-February 2020

Cover Story
V ISION S CIENCE R E SE AR CH
“ as we know it, features classical
The human-machine interface,
machines: computers, wheelchairs and
rigid robotics, for example.
The innovation here is the interface with
soft robotics. This can really open up
“ “The idea behind this project is very
new opportunities in
the field.
The prototype system responds to the
electric signals generated by patches of
electrodes placed on the skin around
the eyes. When the subject blinks, these
electrodes measure the signals and
transmit them through a signal processor
to the lens.
The lens is made of salt water encased
within two electroactive elastomer films
that act like muscles. They can expand,
contract or change their structure
when an electrical potential is applied.
This enables the lens to look in all four
directions and change its focal point.
And because the lens is made of soft
materials, it can change its focal length
by as much as 32 per cent.
The lens is the first example of an
interface between humans and soft
machines, said Shengqiang Cai, a
professor of mechanical and aerospace
engineering at UC San Diego, who led
the research team. “The human-machine
interface, as we know it, features classical
machines: computers, wheelchairs and
rigid robotics, for example. The
innovation here is the interface with soft
robotics. This can really open up new
opportunities in the field.”
The lens was made as a proof of concept
for soft, active materials that could
be remotely controlled by signals from
the body. Researchers hope that one day
it can be used in situations like visual
prostheses, adjustable glasses, virtual
reality and soft robots that can see.
generic,” Dr. Cai added. “In this
demonstration, we use signals generated
by eye movement to control a soft,
tunable lens. But in principle, we could
expand this idea and use other biological
signals (hand movement, heartbeat, etc.)
to control soft grippers, for example.
There is more potential to this
technology than just one specific
application or commercial product. And
that is what I find truly exciting.”
/ www.ENVISIONMAGAZINE.ca / JANUARY—FEBRUARY 2020 / 9