A Flexible Artificial Sensory Nerve Enabled by Nanoparticle‐Assembled Synaptic Devices for Neuromorphic Tactile Recognition

Abstract

Tactile perception enabled by somatosensory system in human is essential for dexterous tool usage, communication, and interaction. Imparting tactile recognition functions to advanced robots and interactive systems can potentially improve their cognition and intelligence. Here, a flexible artificial sensory nerve that mimics the tactile sensing, neural coding, and synaptic processing functions in human sensory nerve is developed to achieve neuromorphic tactile recognition at device level without relying on algorithms or computing resources. An interfacial self-assembly technique, which produces uniform and defect-less thin film of semiconductor nanoparticles on arbitrary substrates, is employed to prepare the flexible synaptic device. The neural facilitation and sensory memory characteristics of the proton-gating synaptic device enable this system to identify material hardness during robotic grasping and recognize tapping patterns during tactile interaction in a continuous, real-time, high-accuracy manner, demonstrating neuromorphic intelligence and recognition capabilities. This artificial sensory nerve produced in wearable and portable form can be readily integrated with advanced robots and smart human-machine interfaces for implementing human-like tactile cognition in neuromorphic electronics toward robotic and wearable applications.

Ligand‐Triggered Self‐Assembly of Flexible Carbon Dot Nanoribbons for Optoelectronic Memristor Devices and Neuromorphic Computing

“…[ 19 ] Third, self‐assembly allows the formation of flexible 1D and 2D structures which are compatible with polymer‐based substrates for the fabrications of flexible devices. [ 20 ] Fourth, self‐assembly enables large‐scale production of 1D, 2D and 3D arrays at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure with high reproducibility. [ 21 ] Finally, self‐supporting films can be created without the need of a template, enabling facile device construction without the need for costly template removal processing steps.…”

Stretchable Transistor‐Structured Artificial Synapses for Neuromorphic Electronics

“…Many papers on the tactile-sensory system have been published. [38,130,131] Bao et al constructed an artificial sensory nerve consisting of resistive pressure sensors, organic ring oscillators, and synaptic transistors. [130] In artificial sensory nerves, pressure sensors collect pressure information, ring oscillators convert the pressure information into action potentials, and synaptic transistors integrate the action potentials from multiple ring oscillators.…”

Doppler Frequency‐Shift Information Processing in WOx‐Based Memristive Synapse for Auditory Motion Perception

“…Neuromorphic sensory system, with perception capability similar to its biological counterpart, has attracted significant interest for the human-machine interface, artificial intelligence, and prosthetic applications. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Sensing and processing are the two fundamental functionalities for the sensory perception, in which advanced sensors with excellent sensitivity have been widely developed in recent years for the sensing function. [8][9][10][11][12] However, DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300030 the sensory information processing in conventional von Neumann architecture usually needs complicated circuits and faces the restriction of high power consumption.…”