scholarly journals Electrospun bundled carbon nanofibers for skin-inspired tactile sensing, proprioception and gesture tracking applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Debarun Sengupta ◽  
Joshua Romano ◽  
Ajay Giri Prakash Kottapalli
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
Body Sensor Networks ◽  
Tactile Sensing ◽  
Average Force ◽  
Neuromorphic Circuits ◽  
Robotic Arms ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensors ◽  
Point Pressure ◽  
Sense Of Touch

AbstractIn this work, we report a class of wearable, stitchable, and sensitive carbon nanofiber (CNF)-polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite-based piezoresistive sensors realized by carbonizing electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and subsequently embedding in PDMS elastomeric thin films. Electro-mechanical tactile sensing characterization of the resulting piezoresistive strain sensors revealed a linear response with an average force sensitivity of ~1.82 kN−1 for normal forces up to 20 N. The real-time functionality of the CNF-PDMS composite sensors in wearable body sensor networks and advanced bionic skin applications was demonstrated through human motion and gesture monitoring experiments. A skin-inspired artificial soft sensor capable of demonstrating proprioceptive and tactile sensory perception utilizing CNF bundles has been shown. Furthermore, a 16-point pressure-sensitive flexible sensor array mimicking slow adapting low threshold mechanoreceptors of glabrous skin was demonstrated. Such devices in tandem with neuromorphic circuits can potentially recreate the sense of touch in robotic arms and restore somatosensory perception in amputees.

Highly accurate fabric piezoresistive sensor with anti-interference of both high humidity and sweat based on hydrophobic non-fluoride titanium dioxide nanoparticle

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liyan Yang ◽  
Jun Ma ◽  
Weibing Zhong ◽  
Qiongzhen Liu ◽  
Mu fang Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Titanium Dioxide ◽  
Conductive Polymers ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
High Humidity ◽  
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticle ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensors ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensor

The fabric-based piezoresistive sensors have demonstrated great potentials in the application of human motion and health detection. However, the conductive polymers of the sensing units are easily influenced by high...

Neuromorphic circuits impart a sense of touch

Science ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 360 (6392) ◽  
pp. 966-967 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Bartolozzi
Keyword(s):  
Neuromorphic Circuits ◽  
Sense Of Touch

Highly Stretchable and Compressible Carbon Nanofiber–Polymer Hydrogel Strain Sensor for Human Motion Detection

2020 ◽  
Vol 305 (3) ◽  
pp. 1900813 ◽  
Author(s):  
Baowei Cheng ◽  
Shulong Chang ◽  
Hui Li ◽  
Yunxing Li ◽  
Weixia Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motion Detection ◽  
Carbon Nanofiber ◽  
Strain Sensor ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
Polymer Hydrogel ◽  
Human Motion Detection ◽  
Highly Stretchable

scholarly journals Flexible Ecoflex®/Graphene Nanoplatelet Foams for Highly Sensitive Low-Pressure Sensors

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (16) ◽  
pp. 4406
Author(s):  
Marco Fortunato ◽  
Irene Bellagamba ◽  
Alessio Tamburrano ◽  
Maria Sabrina Sarto
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Pressure Sensors ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Low Pressure ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
Compression Tests ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensors ◽  
Human Motion Detection ◽  
Pressure Regime

The high demand for multifunctional devices for smart clothing applications, human motion detection, soft robotics, and artificial electronic skins has encouraged researchers to develop new high-performance flexible sensors. In this work, we fabricated and tested new 3D squeezable Ecoflex® open cell foams loaded with different concentrations of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in order to obtain lightweight, soft, and cost-effective piezoresistive sensors with high sensitivity in a low-pressure regime. We analyzed the morphology of the produced materials and characterized both the mechanical and piezoresistive response of samples through quasi-static cyclic compression tests. Results indicated that sensors infiltrated with 1 mg of ethanol/GNP solution with a GNP concentration of 3 mg/mL were more sensitive and stable compared to those infiltrated with the same amount of ethanol/GNP solution but with a lower GNP concentration. The electromechanical response of the sensors showed a negative piezoresistive behavior up to ~10 kPa and an opposite trend for the 10–40 kPa range. The sensors were particularly sensitive at very low deformations, thus obtaining a maximum sensitivity of 0.28 kPa−1 for pressures lower than 10 kPa.

Optimal Design of Self-Adaptive Fingers for Proprioceptive Tactile Sensing

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Belzile ◽  
Lionel Birglen
Keyword(s):  
Optimal Design ◽  
Proximal Phalanx ◽  
Optimization Procedure ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Tactile Sensing ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
Novel Design ◽  
Range Of Values ◽  
Self Adaptive

The sense of touch has always been challenging to replicate in robotics, but it can provide critical information when grasping objects. Nowadays, tactile sensing in artificial hands is usually limited to using external sensors which are typically costly, sensitive to disturbances, and impractical in certain applications. Alternative methods based on proprioceptive measurements exist to circumvent these issues but they are designed for fully actuated systems. Investigating this issue, the authors previously proposed a tactile sensing technique dedicated to underactuated, also known as self-adaptive, fingers based on measuring the stiffness of the mechanism as seen from the actuator. In this paper, a procedure to optimize the design of underactuated fingers in order to obtain the most accurate proprioceptive tactile data is presented. Since this tactile sensing algorithm is based on a one-to-one relationship between the contact location and the stiffness measured at the actuator, the accuracy of the former is optimized by maximizing the range of values of the latter, thereby minimizing the effect of an error on the stiffness estimation. The theoretical framework of the analysis is first presented, followed by the tactile sensing algorithm, and the optimization procedure itself. Finally, a novel design is proposed which includes a hidden proximal phalanx to overcome shortcomings in the sensing capabilities of the proposed method. This paper demonstrates that relatively simple modifications in the design of underactuated fingers allow to perform accurate tactile sensing without conventional external sensors.

scholarly journals Experimental Assessment of the Interface Electronic System for PVDF-Based Piezoelectric Tactile Sensors

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (20) ◽  
pp. 4437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moustafa Saleh ◽  
Yahya Abbass ◽  
Ali Ibrahim ◽  
Maurizio Valle
Keyword(s):  
Low Power ◽  
Electronic System ◽  
Tactile Sensing ◽  
Tactile Sensors ◽  
Prosthetic Device ◽  
Experimental Assessment ◽  
Sensing System ◽  
Sensing Material ◽  
Sense Of Touch

Tactile sensors are widely employed to enable the sense of touch for applications such as robotics and prosthetics. In addition to the selection of an appropriate sensing material, the performance of the tactile sensing system is conditioned by its interface electronic system. On the other hand, due to the need to embed the tactile sensing system into a prosthetic device, strict requirements such as small size and low power consumption are imposed on the system design. This paper presents the experimental assessment and characterization of an interface electronic system for piezoelectric tactile sensors for prosthetic applications. The interface electronic is proposed as part of a wearable system intended to be integrated into an upper limb prosthetic device. The system is based on a low power arm-microcontroller and a DDC232 device. Electrical and electromechanical setups have been implemented to assess the response of the interface electronic with PVDF-based piezoelectric sensors. The results of electrical and electromechanical tests validate the correct functionality of the proposed system.

scholarly journals Ultra-stretchable MWCNT–Ecoflex piezoresistive sensors for human motion detection applications

2019 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 118-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huy Mai ◽  
Rahim Mutlu ◽  
Charbel Tawk ◽  
Gursel Alici ◽  
Vitor Sencadas
Keyword(s):  
Motion Detection ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensors ◽  
Human Motion Detection

scholarly journals PDMS Sponges with Embedded Carbon Nanotubes as Piezoresistive Sensors for Human Motion Detection

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1740
Author(s):  
Blake Herren ◽  
Vincent Webster ◽  
Eric Davidson ◽  
Mrinal C. Saha ◽  
M. Cengiz Altan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Motion Detection ◽  
Human Motion ◽  
Joint Motion ◽  
Piezoresistive Sensors ◽  
Elastomeric Matrix ◽  
Human Motion Detection ◽  
Facile Fabrication ◽  
Removal Technique ◽  
Porous Nanocomposite

Porous piezoresistive sensors offer promising flexible sensing functionality, such as human joint motion detection and gesture identification. Herein, a facile fabrication method is developed using a microwave-based rapid porogen removal technique for the manufacturing of porous nanocomposite sponges consisting of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and well-dispersed carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The porogen amounts and CNT loadings are varied to tailor the porosity and electrical properties of the porous sensors. The sponges are characterized by a scanning electron microscope (SEM) to compare their microstructures, validate the high-quality CNT dispersion, and confirm the successful nanofiller embedding within the elastomeric matrix. Sponges with a 3 wt% CNT loading demonstrate the highest piezoresistive sensitivity. Experimental characterization shows that the sponges with low porosity have long durability and minimal strain rate dependence. Additionally, the developed sponges with 3 wt% CNTs are employed for the human motion detection using piezoresistive method. One experiment includes fingertip compression measurements on a prosthetic hand. Moreover, the sensors are attached to the chest, elbow, and knee of a user to detect breathing, running, walking, joint bending, and throwing motions.

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