Flexible tactile sensationsensorProviding robots with the ability to perceive external mechanical environments is a prerequisite for achieving intelligence. The development of graphene new materials provides a new solution path for the development of the next generation of highly sensitive and flexible tactile technology. The Micro Nano Center of Chongqing Research Institute has been committed to the controllable preparation technology and application research of two-dimensional/three-dimensional graphene. In the early stage, it developed the direct growth and flexible transfer technology of three-dimensional micro nano conformal graphene (J. Mater. Chem. C, 2015, 3, 12379-12384). The three-dimensional conformal graphene film not only has high conductivity, but also exhibits high mechanical reliability, making it flexibleelectrodeThe materials. Recently, researchers have found through finite element simulation analysis that microstructured conformal graphene electrodes are more likely to obtain changes in electrode spacing and equivalent dielectric constant in capacitive mechanical sensors. By controllable construction of the characteristic dimensions of three-dimensional conformal graphene electrodes, the research team has achieved a flexible capacitive tactile sensor with high sensitivity (7.68kPa-1), fast response (30ms), low detection limit (1mgF), and low hysteresis. The main indicators have surpassed the level of human tactile perception.
This tactile sensor can sense the subtle pressure changes generated during the crawling process of insects and record their gait information. The sensor can also monitor pulse waves in real time to analyze their pulse patterns, or assist the robotic arm in intelligent grasping of objects through force feedback. Compared with traditional tactile sensors, this sensor has the characteristics of high sensitivity, fast response, flexibility, lightweight, and distributable attachment. It can better fit with the irregular surfaces of robots, endowing them with tactile functions and greatly expanding the intelligence and application fields of robots.
The above work has received support from the "863" Program of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Member Project of the Youth Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Western Young Scholars (Class A), and the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation.