Recent Progress on Three-dimensional Printing Processes to Fabricate Flexible Tactile Sensors

doi:10.3901/JME.2020.19.239

Abstract

Abstract: Polymer-based flexible tactile sensors have been widely utilized in intelligent robotics, artificial prosthetics, human health monitoring, etc. The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to fabricate the flexible tactile sensors can overcome the shortcomings of traditional manufacturing processes, such as long term of fabrication and challenge of manufacturing the complex polymer-based microstructures. Therefore, the development of 3D printing process for polymer-based tactile sensors and electronic skin is the hot topic of research and will have broaden prospects. The sensing principles of the current flexible tactile sensors and their sensing performance requirements are described. Then, the recent progress of 3D printing technology for the fabricated flexible tactile sensors are presented, which including the tactile sensor's structural design, classification and application of printable sensing materials, printing methods and processes. Finally, the development trend of 3D printed flexible tactile sensors are summarized. Also, the novel highly sensitive flexible material's preparation and new printing process for the flexible tactile sensors are prospected. Further, the future development trends of 3D printed flexible tactile sensors are concluded.

Key words: tactile sensors, flexible electronics, 3D printing, electronic skin, tactile perception, robotics

CLC Number:

TP24
TP331

WANG Yancheng, LU Yingtong, DING Wen, MEI Deqing. Recent Progress on Three-dimensional Printing Processes to Fabricate Flexible Tactile Sensors[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2020, 56(19): 239-252.

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