Biorobotics is a branch of science that merges robotics and biomedical engineering. It designs and develops robotics systems with biomedical application. Biorobotics is highly interdisciplinary and combines engineering, medicine, nanotechnologies, biology and information technology and investigates how biological systems work from a mechanic and engineering point of view, with the aim of developing devices capable of mimicking or integrating such biological systems. Examples are biomechanical prostheses, humanoid and surgical robots or the development of microsurgery and rehabilitation systems.

Recently, an international research team led by Professor Silvestro Micera of the Biorobotics Institute at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa made an important step forward in biorobotics applied to the nervous system. On September 28, 2020 his team and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Protocols a novel method to interface with the peripheral nervous system and mimic the response of peripheral nerves and robotics limb.

Researchers studied the structure and functional characteristics of peripheral nerves and designed models to mimic our nerves when they are stimulated by electric impulses causing muscles to contract. Developing models mimicking the physiological mechanisms of our body is crucial in the field of biorobotics applied to the development of peripheral nervous stimulation therapies. This is an important step as this model predicts muscle contraction and movement induced by electric stimulation.  What will be the future applications of this study? Knowing in advance the response of electric stimulation to restore motor and sensory functions in disabled patients.