Gesture-Based Secure Authentication System Using Triboelectric Nanogenerator Sensors

This study presents a gesture-based authentication system utilizing triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) sensors. As self-powered devices capable of generating high-voltage outputs without external power, TENG sensors are well-suited for low-power IoT sensors and smart device applications. The proposed system recognizes single tap, double tap, and holding gestures. The electrical characteristics of the sensor were evaluated under varying pressure conditions, confirming a linear relationship between applied force and output voltage. These results demonstrate the sensor's high sensitivity and precision. A threshold-based classification algorithm was developed by analyzing signal features enabling accurate gesture recognition in real time. To enhance the practicality and scalability of the system, the algorithm was further configured to automatically segment raw sensor signals into gesture intervals and assign corresponding labels. From these segments, time-domain statistical features were extracted to construct a training dataset. A random forest classifier trained on this dataset achieved a high classification accuracy of 98.15% using five-fold cross-validation. The system reduces security risks commonly associated with traditional keypad input, offering a user-friendly and reliable authentication interface. This work confirms the feasibility of TENG-based gesture recognition for smart locks, IoT authentication devices, and wearable electronics, with future improvements expected through AI-based signal processing and multi-sensor integration.