Tactile vibration sensor inspired by Pacinian mechanoreceptor

초록

Sensing vibration is a basic feature of human interaction with the environment, providing essential information about texture and touching object. Pacinian corpuscle, one of tactile mechanoreceptors plays important role of detecting the vibration stimulus to the skin. Here, we report artificial Pacinian sensor (APS) that consists of piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film and soft polymer structure that present fast adaptation characteristics and a high natural frequency. For tuning the natural frequency of the device, we designed the beam structure, with a soft fixed end and a forced weight at the midpoint. The APS showcased natural frequency around 200 Hz and high sensitivity 26.71 mV/N. After attaching the sensor on the fingertip, we tested gripping of the object, demonstrating the similar result with biological experiment. Using the APS, we showed various vibration experiments such as the grating scribing, dropping the ball and identifying several textures along with artificial intelligence. It is demonstrated that our tactile sensor has a potential in wearable devices, robotic hands, augmented/virtual reality and prosthetics.

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