Bio-inspired integrated pressure-sensing memory system using crack-based sensors and electro-mechanical metamaterials

Human skin possesses remarkable abilities to simultaneously detect and memorize tactile stimuli, enabling sophisticated sensory perception and adaptive responses. Here, we present a bio-inspired integrated pressure-sensing memory system that mimics these capabilities using crack-based sensors and electro-mechanical metamaterial memory components. The device architecture comprises an upper pressure-sensing layer with thin-film crack-based sensors and a lower bistable metamaterial memory layer, both fabricated using silicone rubber-platinum bilayer structures. The pressure sensor demonstrates exceptional performance with high sensitivity of 53.5 kPa^-1 and outstanding reproducibility with less than 0.9% variation across multiple testing cycles. The memory component exhibits bistable behaviour with an on/off resistance ratio exceeding 10¹¹, enabling reliable non-volatile information storage through mechanical state transitions. When applied pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold (approximately 2.6 mN), the memory component undergoes snap-through buckling, transitioning from a high-resistance "off state" to a low-resistance "on state" (≈110 Ω). Environmental durability tests demonstrate stable operation in various liquid media and temperatures up to 130 °C. A 4 × 4 integrated array successfully demonstrates spatial pressure mapping with selective memory writing above threshold pressures. This bio-inspired approach offers a promising pathway for developing intelligent tactile sensing systems for soft robotics, prosthetics, and human-machine interfaces.