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Stretchy Squid-Inspired Skin Glows In Different Colors (gizmag.com)

Posted by timothy on from the really-uncanny-valley dept.

Zothecula writes: Besides having tentacles, squid and octopi are also both known for their color-changing skin. Well, soft-bodied robots may soon also share that attribute, thanks to research being carried out at Cornell University. Led by assistant professor Rob Shepherd, a team of grad students there has developed an electroluminescent rubber "skin" that not only emits light in different colors, but that can also do so while being stretched to more than six times its original length.

26 comments

  1. Finally by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Fully functional robot penises are feasible!

  2. Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Soft bodied robots.......

    1. Re:Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh by Shortguy881 · · Score: 2

      But isn't it just natural instinct: don't stick your junk inside glowing orifices?

      --
      Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
    2. Re:Ohhhhhh yeahhhhh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      soft-bodied robots may soon also share that attribute

      You mean they can make a leopard that can change its spots?

  3. 6 times? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1

    but that can also do so while being stretched to more than six times its original length.

    That's what he said.

    --
    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
  4. Real Doll exports to Japan are about to takeoff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Domo Arigato Mr. Roboto-san!

  5. Octopodes! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    *throws scrabble board*

    1. Re:Octopodes! by dfsmith · · Score: 2

      See, e.g., this explanation. Octopodes is apparently British English.

  6. inherent limitation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    it only stretches to 6 times its originnal length when its black

  7. Arms - Octopuses - Cephalopods by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1. Octopus have arms, and most of squid and cuttlefish 'tentacles' are actually arms too ;-)
    2. The plural of Octopus is Octopus or Octopuses because of its Greek root
    3. You left out Cuttlefish, some of the most amazing examples of creatures with chromatophores.
    4. Perhaps Cephalopods would be better than 'squid and octopi' (although the poor Nautilus doesn't have the colour-changing abilities)

  8. Octopi by edittard · · Score: 1

    I could say why the author is a jerk, but I have to clean up a raviolus that one of the kids has dropped.

    --
    At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
    1. Re:Octopi by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      FIY, it's octopodes. Oh, and it isn't raviolus either, but raviolo since this Italian word didn't exist in Latin (it's based on a Dutch borrowing if you must know).

    2. Re:Octopi by edittard · · Score: 1

      FIY

      Fail.

      Oh, and it isn't raviolus either

      Fail

      it's based on a Dutch borrowing if you must know

      Don't give a fuck.

      Overall: total fail.

      --
      At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
  9. true identity by kencurry · · Score: 1

    Aka Prof. Rob Squidward.

    --
    sigs are for losers (except to point out that sigs are for losers)
  10. naturally by Gravis+Zero · · Score: 3

    While it all might simply seem like a neat party trick, the technology does potentially have some very practical applications.

    considering all the advancements in soft robotics, i'd say this is the finishing touch before japan comes out with some advanced robotic tentacle porn.

    --
    Anons need not reply. Questions end with a question mark.
  11. I hate to be the grammar nazi but by dhaen · · Score: 1

    Octopi sounds like 25.13274122871835 or something close to...

  12. Rubber skin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "The 600 series had rubber skin. We spotted them easy, but these are new."

    That's that. They're really working on building out Skynet's eventual soldiers

    1. Re: Rubber skin? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They look HUMAN. Blood, sweat, bad breath, EVERYTHING.

  13. we're like 80% lewd 12yo jokes so far by Falos · · Score: 1

    "Once you go cephalopod you'll never want a human bod"

    1. Re:we're like 80% lewd 12yo jokes so far by dsmatthews9379 · · Score: 1

      What do you expect when the subject is electroluminescent tumescence?

  14. What is so special? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Color changing stretchable skin for a robot?
    A cheap sheet of white rubber is stretchable, and changes color according to the LEDs inside. trivial.

  15. The future of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    Looks like the future of Fetishwear. :-D

    1. Re:The future of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just think about the dance floor, with the smart clothing made of these. You should be modded up, by the way, for the oh-so-right observation.

  16. Spelling by thermidor · · Score: 1

    *octopodes.

  17. Free Clothing! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now we can get free ad-supported clothing!

  18. Flickercladding! by swm · · Score: 1

    Props to Rudy Rucker