CDE Forging New Frontiers
Issue 03 | Oct 2024
Dear Reader,
We are pleased to present to our community the next issue of the College of Design and Engineering (CDE) Research Newsletter. The focus of this issue is Ageing, a topic that is already broadly impacting society globally.
From using technology to address healthspan and lifespan to reimagining the future of work, home, and the longevity economy, the challenges raised by a rapidly ageing society necessitate transformative solutions. This is where CDE thrives.
Due to our uniquely accessible community of multi-disciplinary stakeholders in the broader community of the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the CDE ecosystem, our investigators have pioneered a wide range of solutions that are already moving the needle in addressing the needs mentioned above and other needs associated with healthy ageing and longevity.
This issue highlights some of the key advances from CDE. From data-driven insights to ageing and the built environment, microbiomes to electronic skin, and bio-inspired sensing to personalised health optimisation, our CDE community has made significant progress in addressing the societal challenges of ageing.
At the core of our work is our unique ability to bring together the key stakeholders necessary to turn ideas into real-world solutions. We invite you to explore this issue and gain a deeper understanding of our collaborative efforts in tackling the challenges of ageing.
All the best,
Dean Ho Editor-in-Chief
Golden years bring golden opportunities
The new Centre for Environment and Ageing Well at the College of Design and Engineering transforms how societies approach ageing-related challenges through research-driven solutions — ensuring an inclusive future in ageing. Architecture
Today, most people can expect to live to 60 years and beyond. While this might seem like an unequivocal win for humanity, the other side of the coin is that, as a result, it also imparts an unprecedented sea change in the traditional composition of our societies. Many countries are experiencing growth in both the number and proportion of older persons in the population.
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A ‘demographic tipping point’ was reached in 2020 — with people aged 60 years and above outnumbering children younger than five. By 2050, the former group will constitute almost a quarter of the global population.
Population ageing — in developed and developing nations alike — is already shaking up the fundamental underpinnings of societies, economies and policymaking. It is a defining global trend of our time.
Associate Professor Emi Kiyota leads ENgAGE’s ageing-related research that would improve living environments for all.
The built environment, encompassing the design and layout of cities and neighbourhoods, the construction and features of individual homes, as well as public spaces and transit systems, plays a key role in shaping the health, mobility, social interaction and overall quality of life of older persons. It can either support or impede their physical and social engagement. Indeed, research has shed light on personenvironment engagement as a core component of health and well-being, linking it to positive health outcomes, including reduced disease risk, better mental health and improved physical and cognitive function.
Yet, despite the importance of supportive built environments, current research on the subject matter, though extensive, is fragmented. This has resulted in knowledge gaps that hamstrings the development of comprehensive and effective solutions to the challenges of ageing. There is, therefore, a strong imperative to carry out research into environments for healthy ageing through a methodical lens, determining how it can turn the tables for greying societies in Asia and beyond.
At the College of Design and Engineering (CDE), National University of Singapore (NUS), Associate Professor Emi Kiyota is spearheading ageing-related research at the Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE). This centre is dedicated to advancing knowledge and practices essential for the well-being of all age groups, with Assoc Prof Kiyota as its Director along with Associate Professor
The Centre for Environment and Ageing Well (ENgAGE) was launched by Ms Indranee Rajah, Minister, Prime Minister’s Office, and Second Minister for Finance and National Development (third from right). She was joined by Professor Heng Chye Kiang (second from the left); Associate Professor Emi Kiyota (third from the left); Associate Professor Fung John Chye (first from the left); Mrs Lee Li-Ming (fourth from the left); and community members (right).
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Fung John Chye as Co-Director. ENgAGE expands on the research carried out by its predecessor, the Centre for Ageing Research in the Environment (CARE), previously headed by Assoc Prof Fung.
“Rather than just conducting research to figure out what older persons need, we must engage in meaningful conversations with them. How can we shift the narrative so that those offering help, including the younger generation, understand that in helping others, they are also helping themselves?” Assoc Prof Fung poses. “After all, ageing is a process that spares no one. At the same time, we need to adopt scientific methods to ensure the robustness and applicability of our research findings to impact policies and improve the human condition.”
ENgAGE leads the way
Bolstered by a multi-disciplinary founding team with decades of experience in ageing-related research, ENgAGE is equipped with a unique lens and capabilities to tackle the challenges facing ageing populations effectively.
“We aim to transform how societies approach ageing-related challenges by becoming a leading research hub for ageing and the environment, pioneering solutions to ensure an inclusive future for older persons,” says Assoc Prof Kiyota. “The Centre will coordinate and consolidate place-based, ageing-related research, education and resources within the NUS community, leading capacity-building initiatives and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders — all united by a shared interest in improving living environments for everyone.”
“The launch of ENgAGE represents a pivotal step in our commitment to improving quality of life and well-being for all. By deepening our understanding of how ageing impacts communities across Asia, ENgAGE will lead the way in creating environments that promote health, independence and dignity throughout all stages of life,” adds Professor Heng Chye Kiang, Deputy Dean of NUS CDE.
The panellists had a fruitful discussion on the challenges and opportunities on ageing in Asia. From left to right: Associate Professor Emi Kiyota, Ms Yoonhee Kim, Dr Upali Nanda and Professor Heng Chye Kiang.
“We need to rethink how we design spaces for older persons. Too often, spaces are built for them, yet they don’t want to use them due to the stigma attached to ageing. Why do we keep building places they avoid?”
Research at ENgAGE focuses on the intersection between ageing and the built environment, conducting extensive studies and formulating practical solutions. In particular, the Centre’s research is organised under three pillars: Ageing-in-Place in Asia, Design for Brain Health, and Climate Change and Ageing in Asia.
The first research pillar, Ageing-in-Place in Asia, addresses key factors — from health burdens to loneliness and social isolation — that make ageing-in-place a viable option for more older adults. “We need to rethink how we design spaces for older persons. Too often, spaces are built for them, yet they don’t want to use them due to the stigma attached to ageing. Why do we keep building places they avoid?” says Assoc Prof Kiyota, underscoring the need for environments that foster natural interactions across generations. “Ageing-in-place should be different from ageing-in-space, like in a nursing home, for example.”
The environment we live and work in also shapes our health as we age. While we cannot yet compose our genome, we can design our environment to support ageing. The second research domain, Design for Brain Health, focuses on how the design of environments influences our cognitive health as we age, with the goal of developing innovative strategies that promote brain health in ageing populations. This is a pressing need given the rise in dementia cases, particularly in developing countries across Asia. In Singapore, approximately one in 10 people aged 60 and above is diagnosed with the condition, with numbers expected to double by 2030.
“We need to create comfortable spaces for people with dementia, which is not just about preventing them from getting lost but enabling them to wander safely — whether through car-lite environments or wearables that guide them home,” adds Prof Heng. “We must tackle the fundamental issues first.”
Climate change presents severe health risks to older persons in Asia, who are particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events and environmental stressors.
Issue 03 | October 2024 Forging New Frontiers
These risks are compounded by socio-economic factors, as lower-income countries may lack the resources to consider future climate impacts on ageing communities. The Climate Change and Ageing in Asia research pillar addresses these challenges by developing resilient and sustainable living environments tailored to the needs of these populations. Key strategies include reducing the contribution of older persons to climate change; protecting them from its impacts; and harnessing their potential in climate action.
Interdisciplinary, collaborative research
Driven by the three research pillars, ENgAGE has embarked on three projects, one of which focuses on the co-development of integrated senior housing typologies. This project aims to fill critical gaps in understanding how the built environment influences the well-being of older persons — essential in creating practical, user-centric housing designs. The project will also establish a baseline for a longitudinal study on housing typologies, providing a scalable model that balances cost, comfort and care for ageing-in-place strategies.
The second project, Alexandra Hospital Tentacles, seeks to address the challenges of limited walkability and mobility options in the ageing Mei Ling/Stirling neighbourhood. The research will carve out primary and secondary pedestrian routes, known as ‘tentacles’, and propose nodes for community healthcare facilities — all of which foster greater connectivity and access to essential services within the community.
Examining the correlation between ageism, the built environment and mental well-being in diverse cultural contexts is also on ENgAGE’s research radar. Employing a systems approach, this project aims to reveal implicit ageist biases in urban planning and architectural design and their impact on age-friendly infrastructure. Pinpointing and alleviating such biases could lead to more inclusive urban policies and practices that support and respect the needs of all age groups.
Community members Mdm Yeo, Ms Tan and Mr Peer Mohamed were invited to take part in the launch ceremony. They are actively involved in ENgAGE’s projects.
Building environments for healthy ageing
The shift towards ageing populations is largely irreversible — but enabling the aged enables our future selves. Collective actions and policy decisions will shape its path and consequences. The ways in which policymakers broach the topic, with foresight and planning, will directly impact how various building blocks of society — from workforce structure to healthcare infrastructure to co-living spaces — function and complement one another to bring the world closer to an age-inclusive future.
“That future should begin today, and ENgAGE aspires to be a thought leader in shaping it. Each of us has a part to play — researchers, policymakers, practitioners, industry partners and community members alike. By reshaping the language we use and the spaces we design, we can change perceptions of ageing. Just as language and our behaviour reflect who we are, the environments we create should inspire older persons to feel proud and engaged in their communities,” Assoc Prof Kiyota concludes.
Assoc Prof Fung adds, “We would need an open mind and sandbox culture to be constantly self-critical of our assumptions and be bold in envisioning new imaginations.”
The biomedically engineered biomedical engineer
Harnessing digital devices to monitor the progress of health regimens reveals the potential of gamification to enhance adherence and optimise health. Biomedical Engineering
Recall the last time you decoded a seemingly impossible riddle, claimed victory over the ‘final boss’ in Super Mario Bros., or got out of a tight situation in an Escape Room at the very last minute. You likely breathed a pleasurable sigh of relief — one charged by dopamine, a hormone secreted in a specific area of our brain known as the reward centre — and subsequently experienced an arcane rush of motivation. Game on, you uttered to yourself.
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The appeal of gameplay is anything but a mystery, and the ‘feel-good’ hormone is the invisible character pulling the strings. An expert game designer pours a lot of thought into crafting challenges that consider player agency, flow, goals, preferences, motivation and rewards — all to engage the players’ dopaminergic system, inducing a sense of motivation and perseverance, ultimately engendering behavioural change.
Beyond the gaming lexicon, this strategic process is known as gamification. Astute businesses apply it to train employees and boost customer engagement. Educators use it to nudge disinterested students to complete their coursework. When gamification is harnessed judiciously, benefits abound.
Indeed, one might consider that healthcare is poised to reap the bountiful rewards of gamification. This is especially pertinent against a backdrop of global ageing, where healthcare resources struggle to meet the demand for long-term, centralised care. As older adults become increasingly digitally savvy, gamification offers an opportunity, through technology, to strengthen intervention design and reach older populations with more health initiatives.
Professor Dean Ho, Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), has personally experienced the positive effects of gamification in healthcare. In his first-ofits-kind study, in which he was the sole subject, Prof Ho essentially became a biomedically engineered biomedical engineer. He explored how the marriage of data and digital technology could sustain intermittent fasting and improve health outcomes. He found that keeping an eye on vital biomarkers could in turn become a source of motivation for him to stick to his health regimens, leading to significant health improvements — an insight that could inform strategies to help older persons manage their health more effectively.
The findings were published in the journal PNAS Nexus on 30 May 2024.
Through a gaming lens
A fitness enthusiast, Prof Ho, who’s also the Director of both the Institute for Digital Medicine (WisDM) at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine (NUS Medicine),
Professor Dean Ho revealed the potential of gamification to enhance adherence to health regimens and optimise health.
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and the NUS N.1 Institute for Health, grounded his work in studying the process of ketosis and its health benefits. Ketosis flicks the body’s metabolic switch to burn fat for energy instead of glucose, and is linked to weight loss and better management of type 2 diabetes. The ability to achieve this energetic switch declines during the ageing process. As such, the measurement of metabolic flexibility served as a surrogate marker for Prof Ho’s metabolic health during this study.
From May to November 2023 Prof Ho documented his journey on his regimen. He fasted for at least 20 hours daily and started each day religiously with strength or cardiovascular training. Leafy greens, lean proteins, seeds, olive oil and other Mediterranean staples formed his diet. He drank only water, black coffee and black tea, without milk or sugar. Sensors and wearables monitored his health metrics, such as blood ketone levels, blood glucose, blood pressure and body weight.
The health outcomes were remarkable. Prof Ho shed about 7.5 kilograms, gained 20% more grip strength and could lift weights 10% heavier than before. He also achieved the impressive feat of completing 1,000 push-ups in under 40 minutes. These results highlight the potential of combining intermittent fasting with a disciplined fitness and dietary regimen.
“Using digital health technologies to monitor my progress represents a shift towards more personalised and engaging health management.”
Above all, the gamification aspect of Prof Ho’s regimen was salient. “Using digital health technologies to monitor my progress represents a shift towards more personalised and engaging health management,” says Prof Ho. “By observing the dynamics in health responses to different interventions, sticking to a health regimen can be converted into a game-like experience.”
Prof Dean Ho with a glucose monitor patch on this arm, and meals that he consumed, consisting of leafy greens, nuts, chicken breast, salmon and avocado. (Credit: Prof Dean Ho)
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Forging New Frontiers
Akin to the ups and downs a player experiences in heart-thudding gameplay, Prof Ho’s ketone levels followed a discernible, repeatable pattern as he adhered to his regimen every day: high in the morning, plummeting after his workouts and soaring again before breaking fast in the evening. While this demonstrated that ketone levels fluctuate according to various activities such as fasting and exercise, it also indicates that the metabolic switch can serve as a clear and measurable ‘target’ for participants to reach.
“This means health management can be dynamically personalised at the individual level,” adds Prof Ho. “For instance, visualising how various biomarkers change and progress during a health programme can make the process more engaging — encouraging the participant to stick to the plan and achieve improved health outcomes over time.”
Data-driven incentives for healthy ageing
While Prof Ho’s regimen required a lot of discipline, the approach can be tailored to an individual’s preferences and habits for sustained user engagement. “Initiating small habits is a good way to build towards a more comprehensive health regimen,” advises Prof Ho. “It is key to enjoy the process, and not jump right into an intense fasting regimen.”
As global ageing unfolds, managing concomitant disorders such as metabolic diseases and frailty will be an increasingly essential component of the demographic shift. New approaches to promote healthy behaviours at the population level will therefore be key. This study raises a question: can personalised health interventions infused with digital technology be effectively implemented on a large scale?
Gamification, the welcome byproduct of digital transformation in healthcare, may address the psychological aspects of health management, and may therefore provide better — as well as far-reaching — strategies for health promotion, prevention and self-management of chronic conditions. This could alleviate the already-strained health system — by encouraging non-critical patients to complete assigned tasks and reducing paperwork, clinic visits and other administrative tasks. Perhaps weaving an element of fun into healthcare could be the next winning strategy for health optimisation.
Biomedical Engineering
Into the world of gut microbes
A scalable, reproducible “micro-gut” model opens up new possibilities for studying the links between gut microbes and human diseases, paving the way for improved treatments and therapies.
There’s a whole other world inside of us. One that a constellation of microbes call home. Collectively, these microscopic critters — about 39-trillion-strong — outnumber our own cells.
Residing mainly in the gut, these tiny microbes play an outsized role. Beyond facilitating the breakdown of food, they also have a hand in many vital physiological
Issue 03 | October 2024
processes of the human body, from regulating blood sugar to boosting the immune system to modulating mood, stress responses and even food cravings.
Given its importance, it is unsurprising that when this ecosystem of microbes is thrown out of kilter, our health suffers. Unhappy microbes can wreak havoc on gastrointestinal tissues, leading to disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. They can also accelerate unhealthy ageing, increasing the likelihood of conditions such as obesity, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Promisingly, bringing these connections to light means new types of treatments could be developed. But first, the underlying mechanisms behind these connections need to be understood.
And what better way to dissect the gut microbiome than in its natural habitat? But how can that be done when the gut is tucked away inside the body? Professor Lim Chwee Teck has a solution: a miniaturised physical twin of the organ.
At the Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore (NUS), Prof Lim, who also serves as the Director of the NUS Institute for Health Innovation and Technology (iHealthtech), led a team to develop a novel Gut Microbiome-on-a-Chip (GMoC). The chip replicates the complex environment of the human gut, providing a scalable, reproducible in vitro model for studying how gut microbes interact with each other and the body. This will help researchers better understand the mechanisms behind microbeinduced diseases and identify new therapeutic targets — all of which could lead to more effective treatments and better health outcomes.
The team’s findings were published in the journal Advanced Science on 27 February 2024.
A window into the life of gut microbes
From bacteria to viruses to fungi, communities of microorganisms — collectively known as the gut microbiome — live in our intestines as the unsung heroes of gut health. Yet, when a spanner is thrown into their works, they can also become contributors to disease.
Professor Lim Chwee Teck led a team to develop a novel Gut Microbiome-on-a-Chip that reveals how gut microbes interact with each other and the human body.
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Deciphering the precise ways in which these microbes either protect or harm the gut is key to developing targeted, preventative healthcare. However, current methods to study the microbiome, such as animal models and static in vitro cultures, struggle to capture the dynamic environment of the human gut. These methods also lack the capability for high-resolution, real-time imaging, making it challenging to observe the detailed interactions between microbes and their impact on gut health.
Prof Lim’s solution came in the form of a microfluidic chip no larger than a coin. But make no mistake — it’s a powerhouse of innovation. The GMoC system features a 3D version of the gut epithelium that recreates key structural and functional aspects of the intestinal tract — from the nutrient-absorbing intestinal villi to the co-existence of microbes and intestinal cells under the dynamic conditions of food movement.
“Replicating the structure of the intestinal villi is important because where various microbial species reside influences how they behave and function,” adds Prof Lim. “The system also produces mucin, which acts as a line of defence against microbial invasion and forms the basis of the gut-bacteria interface.”
In addition, the micro-gut incorporates high-resolution imaging, offering researchers an unprecedented view of microbial behaviours in real time. This provides an unobstructed window into how different microbes compete, cooperate and control gut health. For instance, it can reveal how beneficial bacteria in probiotics, or specific nutrients and drugs, interact with resident microbes to influence gut health. As the gut microbiome tends to lose diversity with age, these insights could help devise strategies to restore a healthy, diverse microbiome and promote healthier ageing. Visualising gut microbes can also help decode how they interact with gut tissues, shedding light on how harmful microbes trigger disease and how beneficial ones protect and modulate vital pathways.
To see this complex interaction in action, the researchers introduced both harmful Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis and beneficial Lactobacillus species into the
“Replicating the structure of the intestinal villi is important because where various microbial species reside influences how they behave and function.”
GMoC. Interestingly, they found that while the harmful bacteria damaged the gut lining and triggered signals that could lead to tumour growth, introducing Lactobacillus beforehand effectively curbed these effects by preventing the harmful bacteria from taking hold, thus preserving gut health.
More than a gut feeling
“The GMoC system represents a step change in our ability to investigate the effect of the gut microbial community on gut health and diseases,” says Prof Lim. “By establishing a physiologically relevant gut model capable of culturing communities of gut microbes, we can gain deeper insights into the role and complex mechanisms of these microorganisms in maintaining gut health and preventing disease.”
Looking ahead, Prof Lim’s team aims to refine the GMoC system further, making it even more representative of the human intestine. To do so, they plan to enhance its sophistication — from integrating mechanical cues to increasing cellular diversity to creating oxygen gradients within the system.
The researchers will also use the platform to explore how microbial communities form, interact and respond to various stimuli, including nutrients and antibiotics. Commercialisation is also on the team’s radar. “We are currently in talks with companies interested in using the technology for applications like drug screening and nutrition studies,” adds Prof Lim.
Navigating the complexity of senior mobility
A new data-driven model dissects the mobility patterns of older persons within urban transit systems, improving the understanding of their travel behaviours for more inclusive, accessible urban designs.
In the Netflix docuseries Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones , National Geographic fellow Dan Buettner takes viewers on an odyssey through a handful of regions around the world, including Singapore, where people have significantly higher-than-average life expectancies.
Issue 03 | October 2024 Forging New Frontiers
Among the featured blue zones — Okinawa, Japan; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; Sardinia, Italy; and Loma Linda, California — Singapore might seem like an outlier, with its glistening skyscrapers and bustling streets juxtaposed with the laidback, nature-rich environments of the other locations.
“It’s an engineered blue zone, instead of one that emerged organically like the other five,” Buettner says, noting how the city-state transitioned into an urban hub in the last few decades. “Cities have amazing power. If you have clear objectives, in just a handful of years, they can make complete transformations.”
Singapore serves up many lessons in engineering longevity, one of which includes transforming transportation services to encourage urban mobility — crucial for older persons’ well-being and quality of life, as it helps them stay active, socially engaged and independent. Indeed, statistics show that urban transit has become the primary mode of transport for the elderly, supporting 60–90% of their daily trips in cities worldwide.
However, as the globe grapples with population ageing, urban transit systems will need to evolve to accommodate this demographic shift. “To meet the mobility needs of seniors in ageing societies, it is crucial to understand where, when and why they travel within the transit system,” says Associate Professor Liu Yang from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering and Management at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore.
To realise this goal, Assoc Prof Liu led a team to develop a data-driven model, based on real-world scenarios, that could answer the three ‘Ws’. The team’s findings were published in IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems on 24 May 2023.
“To meet the mobility needs of seniors in ageing societies, it is crucial to understand where, when and why they travel within the transit system.”
Associate Professor Liu Yang and her team created a data-driven model capable of dissecting the mobility patterns of older persons within urban transit systems.
Understanding senior mobility for better urban planning
Building an efficient system means understanding the needs of those who use it regularly. When it comes to senior mobility, the focus should not only be on tracking where and when seniors travel, but also on uncovering the underlying reasons for their journeys. These insights — particularly the relationships between travel patterns and the placement of health and social facilities — are invaluable for city planners and policymakers. They provide the building blocks for creating urban environments that are both accessible and supportive of older persons’ well-being.
“By applying this technique to mobility data, we can treat each trip or travel sequence like a ‘document’ and each element of the trip, such as the destination, time of travel or duration, as a ‘word’.”
Whether it’s traditional surveys or passively collected data from transit systems, current methods for studying senior mobility are limited by their small sample sizes, time-consuming processes and a lack of contextual richness that is required to understand why seniors choose specific travel routes and destinations. The challenge is further compounded by the complex and irregular travel patterns of older persons, which differ substantially from those of other age groups.
A proactive, data-driven alternative is needed. Assoc Prof Liu’s team developed a spatio-temporal travel pattern (STTP) model, which adapts methods from text mining — a process that scours large collections of text to tease out patterns. “By applying this technique to mobility data, we can treat each trip or travel sequence like a ‘document’ and each element of the trip, such as the destination, time of travel or duration, as a ‘word’,” explains Assoc Prof Liu. “Incorporating these spatio-temporal covariates can help us estimate the relative importance of travel patterns across stations over time. This feature greatly improves the interpretability of activity recognition from passively collected mobility data.”
Through this novel approach, the model could reveal hidden patterns in how seniors travel — not just in terms of where and when, but also the underlying activities and behaviours driving these journeys.
The team applied the STTP model to transit data from Nanjing, China, focusing on the city’s urban rail system. Over several weeks, the researchers analysed millions of trips, discerning distinct travel patterns and associated activities. Indeed, they found that the seniors’ travel habits are closely linked to surrounding land use, such as proximity to parks, hospitals and residential areas. The study also split these travel patterns into short-, medium- and long-duration activities, each with unique implications for urban planning.
For instance, seniors frequently travelling to stations located near public parks might be doing so for morning exercises, social gatherings or leisure activities, typically lasting just a few hours. Understanding this trend allows planners to ensure that these green spaces are easily accessible via public transit, which in turn encourages seniors to remain active and socially connected. Interestingly, another pattern revealed that trips to stations near hospitals often occurred at specific times, such as after breakfast or lunch. This could mean that seniors schedule appointments during these times. Transit authorities could then adjust services to align with these periods, making visits to healthcare facilities less of a hassle for seniors.
Driving the development of senior-friendly cities
By turning raw mobility data into actionable insights, the team’s STTP model offers city planners and policymakers a robust, data-driven tool to enhance urban transit systems. It helps them understand how senior travel patterns are shaped by land use and activity preferences, while affording real-time tweaks through rolling forecasts. This ensures transit services remain accessible and responsive to evolving mobility needs — an increasingly essential capability as the globe gets ever greyer.
However, the researchers note that the model’s findings are based on data from one city in China, which may not capture the socio-economic nuances of other cities. To make the model more accurate and applicable, Assoc Prof Liu’s future research will involve studying more cities worldwide. The team also plans to integrate data from other travel modes, such as buses, taxis or ride-hailing systems, to account for complete trip chains and paint a more comprehensive picture of senior mobility.
Giving robots a sense of touch
An E-Skin that combines optimised tactile sensors with deep-learning algorithms achieves tactile perception surpassing that of the human somatosensory system, advancing applications in robotics and wearable devices for healthcare and rehabilitation.
How sensitive are you? According to research, extremely. Our sense of touch is so refined that we can feel the difference of just a single layer of molecules. And although we might not realise it, the human body can perceive a temperature change as small as one degree Celsius.
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These sensational sensory capabilities would surely make cold, mechanical robots flushed with jealousy.
But not for long. Robots are getting a new skin. At the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Associate Professor Vincent Lee Chengkuo and his team have developed a novel electronic skin (E-Skin), powered by a digital brain, that surpasses the tactile perception of the human somatosensory system. This could mean better, more effective cognitive robots for applications in healthcare and rehabilitation.
The team’s research was published in Advanced Materials on 11 August 2024.
Forging New Frontiers
Together with his team, Associate Professor Vincent Lee Chengkuo designed a novel electronic skin that surpasses the tactile perception of the human somatosensory system.
Bestowing the human touch upon robots
Creating an E-skin that can rival its human counterpart has long been a challenge as replicating multimodal tactile perception in a single, compact device is very complex. Existing devices often integrate multiple sensors to detect various stimuli, such as temperature, pressure and texture — leading to overly complicated designs, signal inaccuracies and exorbitant costs.
Simplicity is what robots are after. The NUS team’s E-Skin is composed of just two advanced sensors: the transient voltage artificial neuron (TVAN) and the sustained potential artificial neuron (SPAN).
The TVAN detects dynamic tactile stimuli, such as vibration, texture and material, using a triboelectric-based mechanism that generates electrical signals in response to mechanical interactions with surfaces. The sensor takes the form of a honeycomb, which makes it more sensitive to different textures and materials — much like how our fingerprints can tease out subtle surface changes.
The SPAN, on the other hand, is an ionic hydrogel-based sensor designed to measure static tactile information, such as pressure and temperature. Unlike conventional sensors, the SPAN generates its own voltage without requiring an external source, reducing energy consumption and simplifying its design, making it suitable for applications that require continuous monitoring.
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“By integrating the TVAN and SPAN into a single unit, our E-Skin converts detected physical stimuli into electrical signals, while machine-learning algorithms make sense of these signals to determine an object’s texture, roughness, hardness, material and temperature,” says Assoc Prof Lee. “Machine learning also helps mitigate the challenges of signal interference and variability in real-world applications, compensating for inconsistencies in applied force, speed and environmental conditions.”
Super-sensitive touch
Wrapping their E-Skin around a robotic finger, the researchers put it to the test — and the results were far from skin-deep.
With an accuracy of 91.2%, the device could differentiate the roughness of ten surfaces, ranging from textures ten times smoother than a strand of human hair to as coarse as a grain of rice.
It also detected eight levels of hardness, from the softness of foam to the rigidity of glass, with 99.5% accuracy. The impressive results go on: the E-Skin can distinguish 16 objects across varying temperatures with 98.5% accuracy; identify 15 different individuals with 97.8% accuracy; classify 16 different fruits with 99.0% accuracy; and detect specific temperatures with an average accuracy of 98.9%.
A sense of urgency
The team’s scalable, versatile E-Skin technology offers a range of applications to support healthcare operations, particularly in enhancing elderly care as tactile sensitivity declines with age. This technology can improve touchbased diagnostics and enable robots to perform tasks requiring precise, gentle handling.
“E-Skin will be essential in future smart homes and smart cities, providing better and more comprehensive care for the
“E-Skin will be essential in future smart homes and smart cities, providing better and more comprehensive care for the elderly.”
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elderly. For example, embedding this technology in everyday items, including walking sticks, bedding or chair cushions, would allow closer monitoring of the health and activity of older persons,” says Assoc Prof Lee.
This is especially pertinent against the backdrop of an ageing global population that requires more care and a healthcare system already beset by workforce shortages, capacity snags and fragmentation.
“Telemedicine systems can also benefit from this E-Skin technology. Doctors would be able to monitor physiological parameters and skin conditions remotely — ensuring timely medical care while reducing the need for frequent clinic visits,” adds Assoc Prof Lee.
Materials Science and Engineering
Learning from the platypus’s ‘sixth sense’
By integrating triboelectric and visuotactile sensing, a novel bionic electro-mechanosensory finger achieves both remote control and tactile perception, mimicking the platypus’s ability to sense electronic signals in murky waters and respond to physical stimuli.
If Mother Nature had a wonderfully weird child, it would very well be the platypus. This duck-billed, otter-footed, beaver-tailed, egg-laying mammal has an assemblage of traits like no other. And if its appearance alone somehow fails to impress, the Australian native has another trick up its furry sleeve: a so-called ‘sixth sense’, based on electro- and mechano-reception.
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The platypus’s bill comes adorned with specialised nerve endings that detect faint electrical signals generated by the muscular contractions of its prey. Meanwhile, push-rod mechanoreceptors on the bill sense changes in pressure and motion. This evolutionary adaptation is particularly crucial as the animal often feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates like shellfish and worms.
Flipping the biomimicry manual open, can the monotreme teach us a thing or two about sensing? Assistant Professor Wu Changsheng from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, believes so. Inspired by the platypus’s super-sensory organ, Asst Prof Wu led a team to develop a bionic finger capable of both touchless and tactile perception, taking human-robot interaction (HRI) to a whole new level. Whether operating in the air or underwater, the team’s innovation could improve how robots interact with their surroundings, and more importantly, with humans.
The team’s work, which was an international, academia-industry collaboration involving Tencent Robotics X and Tsinghua University, was published in Nano Energy on 19 August 2023.
It makes sense
As the globe experiences rapid ageing, the need for healthcare solutions tailored to the elderly arises. Robots that can safely interact with humans are a key enabler in this context, from assisting with daily tasks to delivering healthcare services in hard-to-reach areas. Crucially, the effectiveness of these robots hinges on their ability to sense and interpret their surroundings adeptly.
“Creating sensors that can do so is challenging — as human-friendly robots need to sense remotely and tactilely,” says Asst Prof Wu. “In that regard, traditional sensors often struggle to detect non-contact stimuli, such as the presence of objects in the environment, and lack the resolution needed for precise tactile feedback.”
Drawing inspiration from nature, Asst Prof Wu’s team assembled an electromechanosensory finger (EM-Finger) — a bionic device that emulates the platypus’s extraordinary sensing abilities. The device is designed with a triboelectric sensor
Associate Professor Wu Changsheng invented a novel bionic finger capable of both touchless and tactile perception.
Issue 03 | October 2024
array and a finger-shaped visuotactile sensor — all housed within a structure that resembles a human finger. The triboelectric sensor, made from a liquidmetal-polymer conductive layer, serves as the electrode for the sensor array while also acting as a reflector in the visuotactile sensor system. The entire structure is encapsulated in a dielectric layer, protecting it from environmental wear and enabling its amphibious capabilities.
“Sensors that operate both in air and underwater are crucial for ageing populations and healthcare, particularly for ensuring continuous and safe interactions in different environments.”
Together, these components enable the EM-Finger to encode both touchless and tactile interactions into voltage signals — effectively enabling it to ‘feel’ its environment — much like a platypus does. In particular, the triboelectric sensor responds to electrical stimuli in air and underwater without the need for contact, while the visuotactile sensor captures detailed information about the surfaces with which it comes into contact.
“Sensors that operate both in air and underwater are crucial for ageing populations and healthcare, particularly for ensuring continuous and safe interactions in different environments. Elderly individuals often face higher risks of falls or accidents in wet environments, like bathrooms,” Asst Prof Wu adds. “Amphibious sensors allow robotic systems to reliably assist in these conditions — whether handling slippery objects or providing support — reducing the risk of injury and ensuring safer, more dependable care in critical situations.”
With the help of a deep-learning algorithm, which fuses data from both sensors, the EM-Finger operates in complex and unstructured environments with ease. In an experiment, it successfully classified 18 different materials, from acrylic to glass to resin, with an accuracy of 94.4% (the triboelectric sensor alone achieved only 67.4%).
Sensing a step change
The team’s EM-Finger taps into a whole new world of possibilities for real-world applications, enhancing HRI to improve quality of life, particularly in healthcare and eldercare.
“Going forward, more practical applications can be realised by bridging the interface between the EM-Finger and robotic systems, particularly in healthcare for ageing populations,” adds Asst Prof Wu. “The EM-Finger’s ability to perform both touchless and high-resolution tactile sensing could enhance assistive robotics, enabling remote patient monitoring and delicate object manipulation. We envision the finger’s design as the key that unlocks truly intelligent robots capable of intuitively perceiving and interacting with their environment, improving care delivery through precise, non-invasive assessments.” Issue 03 | October 2024