Novel manufacturing techniques developed by Chung-Ang University researchers could revolutionize how robots and wearable devices interact with their environment through touch. The breakthroughs, published November 11 in the International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing, solve key limitations that have held back advanced tactile sensors.
The research shows how to enhance two promising sensor types: piezoelectric sensors that generate voltage when stressed, and triboelectric sensors that produce charge through contact. Both offer unique advantages for creating self-powered touch sensors, but have faced challenges with brittleness and environmental interference.
“Our study explains the materials and device fabrication strategies for tactile sensors using piezoelectric and triboelectric effects, as well as the types of sensory recognition,” explains Professor Hanjun Ryu, who led the research at Chung-Ang University.
The team demonstrated innovative ways to make piezoelectric materials more flexible while maintaining sensitivity, including new composite materials and 3D printing techniques. For triboelectric sensors, they developed surface treatments and nanostructures that dramatically improve charge generation and durability.
Most notably, the researchers successfully integrated artificial intelligence with these enhanced sensors, enabling them to detect subtle variations in texture and pressure more accurately than current technology. This combination of advanced materials and AI processing brings touch sensing closer to human-level capabilities.
“It is anticipated that AI-based multi-sensory sensors will make innovative contributions to such advancements in various fields,” says Ryu, highlighting potential applications from medical devices to robotic manufacturing.
However, key technical challenges remain. The sensors need greater flexibility to conform to irregular shapes, improved ability to detect multiple types of touch simultaneously, and better ways to process the complex data they generate. The researchers emphasize that solving these issues will require continued innovation in both materials science and computing.
The breakthrough comes at a crucial time, as industries from healthcare to manufacturing seek more sophisticated ways for machines to interact with their environment. With these new manufacturing methods, next-generation robots could handle delicate objects with unprecedented precision, while wearable medical devices could monitor patients’ conditions more accurately than ever before.