Flexible triboelectric nanogenerator-based tactile sensor for human-computer interaction

Flexible sensors are crucial for human gesture monitoring, electronic skin, and human-computer interface interaction, and the development of the Triboelectric Nanogenerator (TENG) marks an innovative breakthrough in energy harvesting and sensing technology. TENG can be used not only as an energy harvesting device to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy but also as a highly sensitive sensor to monitor various physical movements and environmental changes. In the field of flexible sensors, the introduction of TENG technology offers the possibility of producing sensitive, reliable, and self-supporting sensors. Existing conventional flexible sensors have problems such as low sensitivity and complex processing, which cannot meet the application requirements of robotic manipulators, so this paper proposes a friction nanogenerator (AP-TENG) with an Al-PDMS-PET structure. The fabricated flexible sensor has the advantages of flexibility, stretchability, and high mechanical strength, and the peak output voltage of the sensor can reach 11.5 V. To further verify the performance of the sensor, the study applies the fabricated AP-TENG to detect the bending angle of the mechanical finger; when the finger is bent, the AP-TENG adhered to the finger converts the tiny bending motion of the finger into an electrical signal through contact and separation. When the finger is bent, the AP-TENG attached to the finger converts the small bending motion of the finger into an electrical signal through contact and separation. The experimental data show that the AP-TENG can sensitively detect the bending angle of a robot finger from 20° to 60°, and the maximum voltage reaches 11.23 V at 60°. Theoretical and experimental studies show that the proposed sensor has good tactile sensing capability, which demonstrates its potential for a wide range of applications in the field of monitoring the bending of robotic fingers. In the future, the design can be further optimized to promote the practical application of electrical friction sensors in life, medicine, and sport.