Recent advances in triboelectric tactile sensors for robot hand

Abstract

Integrating tactile sensing capabilities into robot hands is pivotal for enhancing their environmental interaction, enabling tasks requiring dexterity, object recognition, and secure collaboration with humans. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), distinguished by their self-powered capabilities, present a unique approach to tactile sensing due to their adeptness in converting mechanical stimuli into electrical energy. This paper provides a comprehensive review of recent advancements in TENG-based tactile sensors for robots' hands, highlighting their unique ability to convert mechanical stimuli into electrical energy, making them self-powered. This review is structured around two primary research approaches: basic and applied. Firstly, the basic research domain focuses on the case of extrusion or tensile deformation caused by touch or gripping motion based on TENG, designed for use in force and pressure sensors. The emphasis is on their substantial contribution to enhancing robot intelligence through continuous motion and capturing tactile data. Moving to applied research, the paper delves into various applications of TENG-based tactile sensors in robot hands, encompassing intelligent grasping and sensing, object recognition, texture recognition, multimodal sensing, and Human Machine Interaction (HMI). Finally, the paper outlines opportunities and challenges, providing valuable insights for future advancements in theoretical and applied research.