Piezoelectric Polymer Transducer Arrays for Flexible Tactile Sensors

Seminara, Lucia; Pinna, Luigi; Valle, Maurizio; Basiricò, Laura; Loi, Alberto; Cosseddu, Piero; Bonfiglio, Annalisa; Ascia, A.; Biso, Maurizio; Ansaldo, Alberto; Ricci, Davide; Metta, Giorgio

doi:10.1109/jsen.2013.2268690

Cited by 105 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In order to take advantage of its high flexibility, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is one of the most commonly used sensitive piezoelectric polymers [19][20][21][22]. Typical polymeric piezoelectric tactile sensors consist of a single PVDF layer with multiple electrodes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and characterization of silicone embedded distributed piezoelectric sensors for contact detection

Acer

Salerno

Agbeviade

et al. 2015

Smart Mater. Struct.

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Tactile sensing transfers complex interactive information in a most intuitive sense. Such a populated set of data from the environment and human interactions necessitates various degrees of information from both modular and distributed areas. A sensor design that could provide such types of feedback becomes challenging when the target component has a nonuniform, agile, high resolution, and soft surface. This paper presents an innovative methodology for the manufacture of novel soft sensors that have a high resolution sensing array due to the sensitivity of ceramic piezoelectric (PZT) elements, while uncommonly matched with the high stretchability of the soft substrate and electrode design. Further, they have a low profile and their transfer function is easy to tune by changing the material and thickness of the soft substrate in which the PZTs are embedded. In this manuscript, we present experimental results of the soft sensor prototypes: PZTs arranged in a four by two array form, measuring 1.5-2.3 mm in thickness, with the sensitivity in the range of 0.07-0.12 of the normalized signal change per unit force. We have conducted extensive tests under dynamic loading conditions that include impact, step and cyclic. The presented prototype's mechanical and functional capacities are promising for applications in biomedical systems where soft, wearable and high precision sensors are needed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and characterization of silicone embedded distributed piezoelectric sensors for contact detection

Acer

Salerno

Agbeviade

et al. 2015

Smart Mater. Struct.

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“…Taxels were circular (radius 1.5 mm) and arranged in a rectangular array (9.6 × 3.5), with the sensor pitch (centre-to-centre distance) of approximately 8 mm. In the present application, the PVDF sheet was placed on a rigid substrate and an elastic layer (Polydimethylsiloxane) was added on top for stress transmission and sensor protection [37]. The charge is read from each taxel by a custom-made multi-channel charge amplifier (CA), converted into voltage and conditioned by a band-pass filter (details are reported in [38]).…”

Section: System Architecturementioning

confidence: 99%

A System for Electrotactile Feedback Using Electronic Skin and Flexible Matrix Electrodes: Experimental Evaluation

Franceschi

Seminara

Došen

et al. 2017

IEEE Trans. Haptics

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Abstract-Myoelectric prostheses are successfully controlled using muscle electrical activity, thereby restoring lost motor functions. However, the somatosensory feedback from the prosthesis to the user is still missing. The sensory substitution methods described in the literature comprise mostly simple position and force sensors combined with discrete stimulation units. The present study describes a novel system for sophisticated electrotactile feedback integrating advanced distributed sensing (electronic skin) and stimulation (matrix electrodes). The system was tested in eight healthy subjects who were asked to recognize the shape, trajectory and direction of a set of dynamic movement patterns (single lines, geometrical objects, letters) presented on the electronic skin. The experiments demonstrated that the system successfully translated the mechanical interaction into the moving electrotactile profiles, which the subjects could recognize with a good performance (shape recognition: 86±8% lines, 73±13% geometries, 72±12% letters). In particular, the subjects could identify the movement direction with a high confidence. These results are in accordance with previous studies investigating the recognition of moving stimuli in human subjects. This is an important development towards closed-loop prostheses providing comprehensive and sophisticated tactile feedback to the user, facilitating the control and the embodiment of the artificial device into the user body scheme.

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“…Recent sensing work with polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film based sensors includes tactile applications related to robotic skin for finger tips [1], large area coverage [2], stress sensing for shock wave measurements [3], deflection sensing [3], object identification [4], smart textiles [5] and power harvesting [6] to name a few. The use of PVDF for energy generation from nano generators [7] is particularly compelling.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of PVDF for energy generation from nano generators [7] is particularly compelling. Advances in manufacturing processes have also increased viability of PVDF as a flexible and adaptable sensor solution for complex surfaces through MEMS based fabrications [8] as well as the use of organic transistors to create a highly sensitive pressure sensor [2]. More recently, nano structure work utilizing nano ribbons has been shown to drastically increase the charge coefficient characteristics of PVDF [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of PVDF sensing applications traditionally rely on either a film membrane based strain sensation [11] or film on rigid substrate pressure sensation [2]. Both of these methods present challenges when applied to collision detection against typical robotic manipulator structures, which require sensing over large surface areas, over complex shapes, and a large range of impact forces.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Piezoelectric Polymer-Based Collision Detection Sensor for Robotic Applications

2015

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The authors present a large area collision detection sensor utilizing the piezoelectric effect of polyvinylidene fluoride film. The proposed sensor system provides high dynamic range for touch sensation, as well as robust adaptability to achieve collision detection on complex-shaped surfaces. The design allows for cohabitation of humans and robots in cooperative environments that require advanced and robust collision detection systems. Data presented in the paper are from sensors successfully retrofitted onto an existing commercial robotic manipulator.

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Piezoelectric Polymer Transducer Arrays for Flexible Tactile Sensors

Cited by 105 publications

References 15 publications

Development and characterization of silicone embedded distributed piezoelectric sensors for contact detection

Development and characterization of silicone embedded distributed piezoelectric sensors for contact detection

A System for Electrotactile Feedback Using Electronic Skin and Flexible Matrix Electrodes: Experimental Evaluation

Piezoelectric Polymer-Based Collision Detection Sensor for Robotic Applications

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