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Sensory Functions of the Skin

Sensory Functions of the Skin

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and plays a crucial role in our sensory perception. It contains a vast network of sensory receptors that contribute to the skin's protective function by perceiving physical, biological, and environmental cues and generating relevant responses.
There are two main categories of receptors on the skin: capsulated and non-capsulated. The non-capsulated ones are mainly the pain receptors. The capsulated ones can be further categorized based on the...

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile and Chemical Senses

Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...

Somatosensation

Somatosensation

The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

A Flexible Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Limb for Chronic Stroke Patients

A Flexible Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Limb for Chronic Stroke Patients

Published on: October 27, 2023

AI-Enabled Flexible Sensing Skin for Next-Generation Aircraft: Toward Embodied Intelligence.

JingJing Ji^1,2,3, YuXuan Pan^1,2,3, ZhiHan Zhang^1,2,3

¹State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Manufacturing Equipment and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China.

Research (Washington, D.C.)

|June 10, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Next-generation aircraft will use intelligent flexible sensing skins for real-time environmental awareness and autonomous decision-making. This "Fly-by-Feel" technology enhances aircraft intelligence, efficiency, and safety through advanced sensing and artificial intelligence.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 11, 2026

A Flexible Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Limb for Chronic Stroke Patients

A Flexible Wearable Supernumerary Robotic Limb for Chronic Stroke Patients

Published on: October 27, 2023

Area of Science:

Aerospace Engineering
Materials Science
Artificial Intelligence

Background:

Aircraft are evolving into intelligent agents with advanced sensing capabilities.
Flexible sensing skins offer advantages like conformability and lightweight design for aircraft surfaces.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the "sensing-decision-regulation" closed-loop system for next-generation aircraft.
To demonstrate applications of intelligent flexible skins in anti-icing, stealth, and aerodynamic enhancement.

Main Methods:

In-situ sensing of multi-aerodynamic parameters without disturbing airflow.
Artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced super-resolution perception using edge-deployed chips.
Closed-loop actuation based on the sensing-algorithm collaborative bridge.

Main Results:

Demonstrated the core composition of the "sensing-decision-regulation" system.
Showcased applications in anti-icing/deicing, electromagnetic stealth, and lift enhancement/drag reduction.
Highlighted the potential of programmable intelligent flexible skins.

Conclusions:

Intelligent flexible skins are key enablers for "Fly-by-Feel" aircraft.
The "sensing-decision-regulation" system facilitates autonomous decision-making and self-evolution.
Future prospects include enhanced aircraft intelligence, efficiency, and safety.