# Episode Twenty-Seven: Simon Wanstall

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2022-11-25
- Length: 20m
- Episode: 27
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall

## Summary

Simon Wanstall, a PhD student at the Edinburgh Centre for Robotics and R&D engineer at TouchLab, discusses his work on soft robotic prosthetics and bio-inspired design. He explains how current myoelectric arms are heavy and slow due to hard materials, and details his development of rapid-manufacture strain sensors using laser-etched graphene and silicone to improve sensory feedback. Wanstall also describes Wayne, a bio-inspired soft robot inspired by ragworms, and his industrial placement at TouchLab creating e-skin technologies like the Eidermis and triaxial shear sensors for hazardous environment robotics.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=7) Introduction: Simon Wanstall and Soft Robotics Overview
- [1:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=114) Current State of Myoelectric Prosthetics and Limitations
- [4:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=260) Sensory Feedback and Neural Interfaces
- [6:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=367) Developing Rapid-Manufacture Soft Sensors
- [8:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=498) Robustness, Self-Healing, and Hybrid Designs
- [10:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=622) TouchLab and E-Skin Technologies (Eidermis, Triaxial Shear)
- [14:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=862) Wayne: Bio-Inspired Soft Robot and Pneumatics
- [17:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2022-11-25-episode-twenty-seven-simon-wanstall#t=1029) Future Research: Actuators and Bio-Inspiration

## Topics

- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)
- [Sensors & measurement in products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sensors)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Edinburgh Centre for Robotics (company)
- TouchLab (company)
- myoelectric robotic arms (product)
- Eidermis (product)
- Wayne (product)
- Tesla suit (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [495: Shortcut the Difficulties of Reality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2025-02-21-495-shortcut-the-difficulties-of-reality) (Embedded.fm)
- [Event-Driven E-Skins Protect Both Robots and Humans](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2025-07-08-event-driven-e-skins-protect-both-robots-and-humans) (EE Times Current)
- [178. Talk to The Hand: Meet The Robots With a Human Touch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2024-06-11-178-talk-to-the-hand-meet-the-robots-with-a-human-touch) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Understanding Real Brains with Robotic Rats, and Vice Versa](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2023-09-25-understanding-real-brains-with-robotic-rats-and-vice-versa) (EE Times Current)
- [189: The Squishiness Factor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-03-02-189-the-squishiness-factor) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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