Novel Tactile Sensor Technology and Smart Tactile Sensing Systems: A Review
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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

A Tactile Automated Passive-Finger Stimulator TAPS
Published on: June 3, 2009
Liang Zou1, Chang Ge2, Z Jane Wang3
1Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. liangzou@ece.ubc.ca.
Abstract:
During the last decades, smart tactile sensing systems based on different sensing techniques have been developed due to their high potential in industry and biomedical engineering. However, smart tactile sensing technologies and systems are still in their infancy, as many technological and system issues remain unresolved and require strong interdisciplinary efforts to address them. This paper provides an overview of smart tactile sensing systems, with a focus on signal processing technologies used to interpret the measured information from tactile sensors and/or sensors for other sensory modalities. The tactile sensing transduction and principles, fabrication and structures are also discussed with their merits and demerits. Finally, the challenges that tactile sensing technology needs to overcome are highlighted.
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