Robotic and Other Skins with a Subsurface Reinforcement Layer at a Selectable Depth

An artificial skin formed of an elastomeric material, comprising:

• a body formed of a thickness of the elastomeric material extending between a first surface and a second surface;
• in a portion of the body, a sheet of reinforcement material embedded with the body at an offset distance from the second surface;
• and
• a plurality of recesses in the second surface adjacent to the sheet of reinforcement material, the recesses extending a depth into the body at least equal to the offset distance.

A method for fabricating a flexible and durable skin, comprising:

• providing a core for a mold, wherein a surface of the core includes a pattern of standoffs extending outward from the core surface;
• positioning a piece of reinforcement material over the surface to be in contact with the standoffs;
• pouring material for a skin over the core and the piece of reinforcement material;
• and
• after the material has hardened, removing the skin with the piece of reinforcement material embedded within the skin at an offset distance from a surface of the skin.