• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.139-144
• /
• 2022

Advanced tactile sensors are receiving significant attention in various industries such as extended reality, electronic skin, organic user interfaces, and robotics. The capabilities of advanced tactile sensors require a variety of functions, including position sensing, pressure sensing, and material recognition. Moreover, they should comsume less power and be bio-friendly with human contact. Recently, a tactile sensor based on the triboelectrification effect was developed. Triboelectric tactile sensors have the advantages of wide material availability, simple structure, and low manufacturing cost. Because they generate electricity by contact, they have low power consumption compared to conventional tactile sensors such as capacitive and piezoresistive. Furthermore, they have the ability to recognize the contact material as well as execute position and pressure sensing functions using the triboelectrification effect. The aim of this study is to introduce the progress of research on triboelectrification-based tactile sensors with various functions such as position sensing, pressure sensing and contact material recognition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.20 no.9
• /
• pp.104-109
• /
• 2021

Tactile sensors and integrated circuits that detect external stimuli have been developed for use in various industries. Most tactile sensors have been developed using the MEMS(micro electro-mechanical systems) process in which metal electrodes and strain sensors are applied to a silicon substrate. However, tactile sensors made of highly brittle silicon lack flexibility and are prone to damage by external forces. Flexible tactile sensors based on polydimethylsiloxane and using a multi-walled carbon nano-tube mixture as a pressure-sensitive material are currently being developed as an alternative to overcome these limitations. In this study, a manufacturing process of pressure-sensitive materials with low initial electrical resistance is developed and applied to the fabrication of flexible tactile sensors. In addition, flexible tactile sensors are developed with pressure-sensitive materials dispensed on a substrate with flexible mechanical properties. Finally, a study is conducted on the change in electrical resistance of pressure-sensitive materials according to the modulus of elasticity of the substrate.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Industry Convergence
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.233-243
• /
• 2017

This paper proposes a structure of direct-printed flexible tactile-sensor. These flexible tactile sensors are based on pressure-sensing materials that allow pressure to be measured according to resistance change that in turn results from changes in material size because of compressive force. The sensing material consists of a mixture of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and TangoPlus, which gives it flexibility and elasticity. The tactile sensors used in this study were designed in the form of array structures composed of many lines so that single pressure points can be measured. To evaluate the performance of the flexible tactile sensor, we used specially designed signal-processing electronics and tactile sensors to experimentally verify the sensors' linearity. To test object grasp, tactile sensors were attached to the surface of the fingers of grippers with three degrees of freedom to measure the pressure changes that occur during object grasp. The results of these experiments indicate that the flexible tactile sensor-based robotic gripper can grasp objects and hold them in a stable manner.

• Electronics and Telecommunications Trends
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.123-130
• /
• 2018

Tactile sensors, which are commonly referred to as pressure and strain sensors, have been extensively investigated to meet the demands for attachable and wearable electronics for monitoring the health status or activity of human users. For this purpose, the introduction of two-dimensional (2D) materials such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) with high mechanical strength at the atomic scale is very suitable for tactile sensors applicable for use in human-friendly devices. In this paper, we examine a descriptive summary of a tactile sensor and review state-of- the-art research trends of 2D material-based tactile sensors in terms of the material and architecture. Finally, we propose a roadmap for future studies into advanced tactile sensors based on our ongoing research.

• Elastomers and Composites
• /
• v.58 no.4
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2023

Recently, there has been a significant focus on the development of flexible and stretchable sensors, driven by advancements in electronic devices and the robotics industry. Among these sensors, tactile sensors stand out as the most actively researched, playing a crucial role in facilitating interaction between humans and electronic devices, particularly in robotics and medical applications. This study specifically involves the manufacturing of a capacitive tactile sensor using a relatively straightforward process and sensor structure. Natural rubber and Nitrile butadiene rubber, commonly employed in the rubber industry, were utilized. The dielectric material in the manufactured tactile sensor possesses a porous structure. Notably, the resulting tactile sensor demonstrated excellent sensitivity, approximately 1%/kPa, and exhibited the capability to detect pressures up to 212 kPa.

• Journal of Korea Multimedia Society
• /
• v.7 no.6
• /
• pp.767-780
• /
• 2004

Interaction requires dynamic relationship between objects. In ubiquitous computing environment, interaction between human and the environment is implied. Tactile interaction has so far been less addressed, while tactile sensation should be an important topic in the field of multimedia study. This paper describes development of a novel PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride) dynamic tactile sensor and associated experiments. PVDF dynamic tactile sensors detect touch events applied to the sensor skin by low frequency components of the signal. Rubber skin-covered sensing material was mounted on the bones. Robust performance with low noise was figured out in our robotic experiment. Whereas most conventional sensors are interested in measurement, our dynamic tactile sensor is sensitive to change of state, which could be a key for economic understanding of happenings in the dynamic world. We note that dynamic sensing uses motion as a part of sensing modality We suggest that dynamic sensing be understood in technological terms in the perspective of interactive media and ubiquitous computing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
• /
• v.19 no.10
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2020

Flexible tactile sensors, which are primarily used as grippers in robots, are mainly used to handle highly elastic or highly flexible objects. That is, flexible grippers are used when an object cannot be sufficiently controlled by applying a specific output force or taking a specific grabbing action. This is because a flexible tactile sensor needs to measure the pressure applied directly to held objects while deforming according to the shape of the object to be handled. CNT-based sensors used to be made from a highly flexible polymer to give flexibility and it is known that the sensors are greatly affected by the contact resistance of the terminal that connects the sensor to an electrical circuit; therefore, this paper clarifies the contact resistance of MWCNTs-based flexible tactile sensors and terminals. The effects of main and plating materials for terminals are investigated and the combinations of main and plating materials that exhibit contact resistance are measured in a typical industrial environment.

• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.310-316
• /
• 2017

The robot proximity and tactile sensors can be categorized into two groups: grip sensors and safety sensors. They have different performance requirements. The safety sensor should have long proximity range and fast response in order to secure enough response time before colliding with ambient objects. As for the tactile sensing function, the safety sensor need to be fast and compliant to mitigate the impact from a collision. In order to meet these requirements, we proposed and demonstrated a compliant integrated safety sensor suitable to human-friendly robots. An ultrasonic proximity sensor and a piezoelectric tactile sensor made of PVDF films have been integrated in a compliant PDMS structure. The implemented sensor demonstrated the maximum proximity range of 35 cm. The directional tolerance for 30 cm detection range was about ${\pm}15^{\circ}$ from the normal axis. The integrated PVDF tactile sensor was able to detect various impacts of up to 20 N in a controlled experimental setup.

• Vacuum Magazine
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.6-11
• /
• 2017

The tactile sensor of the future robot is becoming a necessity as a sensory organ which can communicate with the person most directly. Recently, the Nature-inspired technology has provided a new direction for the development of these tactile sensors. Here, we review three different nature-inspired tactile sensory system; high sensitivity pressure sensor inspired by beetle wings, highly sensitive strain sensor inspired by the spider's sensory organs, Tactile sensor inspired by human fingertip. These nature-inspired tactile sensors are expected to provide a breakthrough that not only can sensitively measure the pressure, but also delicately recognize the softness and texture of the material just like human.

• Journal of Institute of Control, Robotics and Systems
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.783-789
• /
• 2007

In this paper, firstly, we propose a generating method of the 3-D obstacle map using ultrasonic sensors. Secondly, we try to find the necessary stimulation conditions of compact tactile display device for effective transfer of obstacle information. The final goal of this research is the development of a walking guide system for the blind to walk safely. The walking guide system consists of a guide vehicle for the obstacle detection and a tactile display device for the transfer of the obstacle information. The guide vehicle, located in front of the walking blind, detects the obstacle using ultrasonic sensors. The processed information makes an obstacle map and transmits safe path and emergency situation to the blind by the tactile display. The tactile display device, located in the handle which is connected with the guide vehicle by cane, offers the processed obstacle information such as position, size, moving, shape of obstacle and safe path, etc. The concept of a walking guide system with tactile display is introduced, and experiments of 3-D obstacle detection and tactile perception are carried out and analyzed.