Evolving Beyond Nature: AI-Driven Rapid Advancements of Bio-Inspired Electronic Skin

Electronic skin (e-skin) is a rapidly developing technology at the intersection of humans and machines with tremendous applications in robotics, healthcare, sports performance, and other fields of wearable electronics. With the recent popularization of artificial intelligence (AI), data-driven approaches to materials design and geometric functional optimization have accelerated e-skin development, enabling optimized microstructures, novel functionalities, and improved usability. Recent progress in bioinspired materials design and functionality enhancements for e-skin is paving the way for future-facing machine learning-powered tools to further accelerate their development. In this review, we discuss the traditional properties of e-skins, their sensing mechanisms, and suitable applications. Then, we investigate and categorize bioinspired structures from material, structural, and functional perspectives. Next, we outline the fundamentals of AI for data-driven optimization and how it can be utilized toward bioinspired e-skin design. This blended e-skin design framework culminates in novel applications, from customizable layouts for personalized therapeutics to dynamic environment recognition for enhanced robotics. Finally, we will explore the challenges of e-skin human-machine interfaces, including their hardware limitations, sensitivity, and longevity issues, and offer insights into future-proof research.