Biomimetic Tactile Sensors Based on Nanomaterials.

Abstract

Tactile sensor technology has been researched extensively in response to the increasing demand for robotic and wearable healthcare systems. Studies on tactile sensory systems have primarily focused on achieving two goals: (1) developing technologies with high sensing abilities that mimic the biological functions and characteristics of the sensory systems of human skin and (2) satisfying the requirements of wearable device applications by fabricating mechanically flexible devices with low-power data analysis and processing abilities. In this Perspective, we present recent advances in artificial tactile sensory systems, which are based on biomimetic technologies that exhibit functional features of biological systems including mechanoreceptors and human skin sensory neurons for human-machine interfaces. We also discuss the opportunities, current challenges, potential solutions, and future investigative directions pertaining to this field.