Fingerprint inspired advanced end-effector and its applications

Abstract

The human fingertip consists of a fingerprint with many micro-grating structures. The main roles of the fingerprint could be divided into two purposes, namely, the enhancement of the frictional force and the effective transmittance of the biosignal. In this study, we present the fingerprint-inspired end-effector that has not only admirable frictional force but also electric conductivity. The end-effector is composed of fluorocarbon rubber, one of the famous materials to achieve high frictional force and robustness. Through various experiments, the novel performance of micro structured fluorocarbon rubber end-effector (MSFE) is characterized by comparing with a macroscale patterned sample (MPS), which has been already used in real industrial fields. Experimental results are analyzed theoretically. Furthermore, as feasible applications, we suggest two applications based on the role of the fingerprint. One is the conductive astronaut glove with high frictional force, and the other one is a non-slip pad for the next-generation glass transfer systems. Through these experiments, we successfully observe the enhanced system performance and confirm the possibility of using the MSFE as feasible applications. We believe that the MSFE could be a useful and powerful alternative as an end-effector, not only in the aerospace industry but also in display manufacturing processes.