# Event-Driven E-Skins Protect Both Robots and Humans

- Show: [EE Times Current](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current)
- Published: 2025-07-08
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685
- Listen: https://podcast.show/aspencore/episode/146873845/

## Summary

Professor Gordon Cheng of the Technical University of Munich explains his development of event-driven e-skin for humanoid robots, using off-the-shelf sensors and neuromorphic communication to enable safe, autonomous physical interaction. He details how hexagonal sensor patches covering the robot's body transmit only change-based events to avoid data overload, allowing the robot to sense proximity, force, temperature, and vibration. The discussion with Dr. Giulia D’Angelo and Professor Ralph Etienne-Cummings explores the distinction between device-level and system-level neuromorphic engineering, the challenges of scaling such technology, and its applications in brain-machine interfaces and prosthetics.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=2) Introduction: Gordon Cheng and the quest for robotic touch
- [3:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=221) Cheng's journey from vision-based navigation to tactile intelligence
- [9:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=563) Designing event-driven e-skin with off-the-shelf sensors
- [15:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=929) Calibrating the skin using motor babbling and homunculus concepts
- [22:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=1324) Applying e-skin technology to brain-machine interfaces and prosthetics
- [29:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=1794) Panel discussion: Neuromorphic definitions and industry challenges
- [38:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans-6d461685#t=2289) The chicken-and-egg problem in neuromorphic computing and startups

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Technical University of Munich (company)
- Johns Hopkins University (company)
- Czech Technical University in Prague (company)
- Intel (company)
- BrainChip (company)
- Prophesee (company)
- iCub (product)
- RP2009 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bonus Episode: Giving robots the power of human touch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-09-21-bonus-episode-giving-robots-the-power-of-human-touch) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 118: Soft robotics and electronic skin - Miranda Lowther](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-04-25-episode-118-soft-robotics-and-electronic-skin-miranda-lowther) (Robot Talk)
- [63. Immune System Inspired AI & Electric Skin](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-03-29-63-immune-system-inspired-ai-electric-skin) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Episode Twenty-Seven: Simon Wanstall](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode Four - Robot Senses: perceiving the world](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2021-01-29-episode-four-robot-senses-perceiving-the-world) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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