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Flexible Tactile Sensors: Materials, Mechanisms, Structures, and Multifaceted Applications.
Zhenshuai Wan1,2, Peng Liu1,2, Yu Fu1,2,3
1Henan Key Laboratory of Superhard Abrasives and Grinding Equipment, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|October 30, 2025
Summary
Flexible tactile sensors overcome limitations of rigid sensors for robotics and healthcare. This review maps breakthroughs in materials, mechanisms, and AI-driven applications for advanced human-machine interaction.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Robotics
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Conventional rigid tactile sensors exhibit limitations in flexibility, biocompatibility, and surface integration, restricting applications in robotics, healthcare, and wearables.
- Advances in flexible materials and electronics are driving the development of novel "Soft Touch" sensors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize recent breakthroughs in flexible tactile sensing technology.
- To establish a cross-disciplinary roadmap for flexible tactile sensor development and application.
- To analyze synergistic advancements in bioinspired structures and AI fusion for next-generation sensors.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of flexible tactile sensing.
- Analysis of novel materials, sensing mechanisms, and sensor structures.
- Exploration of integrated signal processing and frontier applications.
Main Results:
- Identification of key breakthroughs in flexible tactile sensing materials and mechanisms.
- Demonstration of synergistic potential between bioinspired designs, AI fusion, and flexible sensors.
- Highlighting of advancements in intelligent robotics, medical diagnostics, and wearable monitoring.
Conclusions:
- Flexible tactile sensors offer a paradigm shift in human-machine-environment interaction.
- Addressing challenges in biocompatibility, manufacturing, and multimodal fusion is crucial for widespread adoption.
- Future research directions include next-generation sensor development for surgical robotics, telemedicine, prosthetics, and personalized health management.
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