Microstructure-engineered flexible tactile sensors for bioelectronics and human-machine interactions: a review

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Engineering
• Robotics

Background:

• Flexible tactile sensors mimic human skin for bioelectronics and human-machine interaction.
• Current limitations include material constraints and a sensitivity-detection range trade-off.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review flexible tactile sensor mechanisms and microstructural engineering.
• To highlight advances in embodied intelligence and bioelectronic monitoring.
• To identify challenges and future research directions.

Main Methods:

• Review of capacitive, piezoresistive, piezoelectric, and triboelectric sensing mechanisms.
• Analysis of microstructural engineering's role in stress distribution and interfacial contact.
• Survey of recent applications in embodied intelligence and bioelectronic monitoring.

Main Results:

• Microstructural engineering significantly impacts stress distribution and interfacial contact.
• Flexible tactile sensors show progress in embodied intelligence and bioelectronic monitoring.
• Key challenges and future research avenues are identified.

Conclusions:

• Microstructural engineering is crucial for enhancing flexible tactile sensor performance.
• Bridging fundamental research and practical applications requires addressing identified challenges.
• Advancing rational design of high-performance sensors is the future direction.