Goosebumps, texture-changing robot skin, Blossom, social robot, Human-Robot Collaboration and Companionship (HRC^2) Lab, Cornell University, Ithaca, N

We developed a soft robotic skin that can change its texture to express its internal state, such as emotions. The prototype skin can change its skin through a combination of goosebumps and spikes.

This is in contrast to most socially expressive robots, which use either gestures or facial expressions to communicate. While these are common human expression channels, humans and many animals also show emotions on their skin, like ruffled feathers and goosebumps.

This research project aims to give social robots a similar capability.

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