artificial intelligence<\/a> and robotics.<\/p>\nAs a sometimes-overlooked foundational requirement in this transformation, sensors represent an essential interface between humans, machines, and their environment.<\/p>\n
However, now that robots are becoming more agile and wearable electronics are no longer confined to science fiction, traditional silicon-based sensors won\u2019t be suitable for many applications.<\/p>\n
Therefore, flexible sensors, which provide better comfort and higher versatility, have become a very active area of study.<\/p>\n
Piezoelectric sensors are particularly important in this regard, as they can convert mechanical stress and stretch into an electrical signal. Despite numerous promising approaches, there remains a lack of environmentally sustainable methods for mass-producing flexible, high-performance piezoelectric sensors at a low cost.<\/p>\n
Could electrospinning address flexibility issues?<\/h3>\n
The proposed flexible sensor design involves the stepwise electrospinning of a composite 2D nanofiber membrane.<\/p>\n
First, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers with diameters in the order of 200 nm are spun, forming a strong uniform network that acts as the base for the piezoelectric sensor. Then, ultrafine PVDF nanofibres with diameters smaller than 35 nm are spun onto the preexisting base.<\/p>\n
These fibres become automatically interweaved between the gaps of the base network, creating a particular 2D topology.<\/p>\n
After characterisation via experiments, simulations, and theoretical analyses, the researchers found that the resulting composite PVDF network had enhanced beta crystal orientation.<\/p>\n
By enhancing this polar phase, which is responsible for the piezoelectric effect observed in PVDF materials, the piezoelectric performance of the sensors was significantly improved.<\/p>\n
Testing the sensors in wearable devices<\/h3>\n
These exceptional qualities were demonstrated practically using wearable sensors to measure a wide variety of movements and actions.<\/p>\n
Given the potential low-cost mass production of these piezoelectric sensors, combined with their use of environmentally friendly organic materials instead of harmful inorganics, this study could have important technological implications not only for health monitoring and diagnostics but also for robotics.<\/p>\n
Professor Ick Soo Kim, who led the study, commented: \u201cConsidering high-tech sensors are currently being used to monitor robot motions, our proposed nanofiber-based superior piezoelectric sensors hold much potential not only for monitoring human movements but also in the field of humanoid robotics.\u201d<\/p>\n
To make the adoption of these sensors easier, the research team will be focusing on improving the material’s electrical output properties so that flexible electronic components can be driven without the need for an external power source.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Researchers have created flexible piezoelectric sensors, which are essential for monitoring the motions of humanoid robots.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":48467,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[830],"tags":[24208,24135],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Advancing piezoelectric sensors to monitor robotic movement<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n