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Nanofibrous PAN-PDMS Films-Based High-Performance Triboelectric Artificial Whisker for Self-Powered Obstacle
Harris Varghese1,2, Vaishna Priya K1,2, Unnikrishnan Nair Saraswathy Hareesh1,2
1Materials Science and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695019, India.
Macromolecular Rapid Communications
|October 6, 2023
Summary
Autonomous robots can now detect obstacles using a self-powered artificial whisker. This triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) technology offers a battery-free solution for enhanced robotic navigation and sensing.
Area of Science:
- Robotics and Autonomous Systems
- Materials Science
- Energy Harvesting
Background:
- Autonomous mobile robots require effective obstacle detection for navigation in unknown environments.
- The Internet of Things (IoT) necessitates self-powered sensors, making batteries less practical for widespread deployment.
- Tactile perception offers a promising avenue for robotic sensing, mimicking biological systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate self-powered obstacle detection for autonomous mobile robots using a triboelectric artificial whisker (TAW).
- To develop and characterize a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) for tactile sensing applications.
- To investigate the performance enhancement of TENGs through electrospinning techniques.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a triboelectric artificial whisker (TAW) incorporating a triboelectric sensor.
- Utilizing electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film to construct the TENG.
- Characterization of the TENG's electrical output (voltage, current density, power delivery) under mechanical force.
Main Results:
- The TAW successfully generated electrical signals upon mechanical contact with obstacles, enabling tactile perception.
- The TENG achieved a significant output voltage of 720 V and a current density of 5 mA m⁻².
- Electrospinning of PAN nanofibers enhanced the TENG's power density by 3.4 times compared to non-surface-modified versions, reaching a maximum of 1.7 W m⁻² at 10 N force.
- The TENG demonstrated the ability to charge capacitors and power small electronic devices like calculators and thermometers.
Conclusions:
- The developed TAW provides a viable self-powered solution for obstacle detection in autonomous robots.
- The TENG based on electrospun PAN nanofibers exhibits high performance for tactile sensing and energy harvesting.
- This technology paves the way for battery-free robotic systems and self-powered electronic gadgets.
