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Flexible tactile sensors with multifunctional sensing functions have attracted much attention due to their wide applications in artificial limbs, intelligent robots, human‐machine interfaces, and health monitoring devices. Here, a multifunctional flexible tactile sensor based on resistive effect for simultaneous sensing of pressure and temperature is reported. The sensor features a simple design with patterned metal film on a soft substrate with cavities and protrusions. The decoupling of pressure and temperature sensing is achieved by the reasonable arrangement of metal layers in the patterned metal film. Systematically experimental and numerical studies are carried out to reveal the multifunctional sensing mechanism and show that the proposed sensor exhibits good linearity, fast response, high stability, good mechanical flexibility, and good microfabrication compatibility. Demonstrations of the multifunctional flexible tactile sensor to monitor touch, breathing, pulse and objects grabbing/releasing in various application scenarios involving coupled temperature/pressure stimuli illustrate its excellent capability of measuring pressure and temperature simultaneously. These results offer an effective tool for multifunctional sensing of pressure and temperature and create engineering opportunities for applications of wearable health monitoring and human‐machine interfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, extensive research has been conducted on the development of high-performance flexible tactile sensors, pursuing the next generation of highly intelligent electronics with diverse potential applications in self-powered wearable sensors, human–machine interactions, electronic skin, and soft robotics. Among the most promising materials that have emerged in this context are functional polymer composites (FPCs), which exhibit exceptional mechanical and electrical properties, enabling them to be excellent candidates for tactile sensors. Herein, this review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in FPCs-based tactile sensors, including the fundamental principle, the necessary property parameter, the unique device structure, and the fabrication process of different types of tactile sensors. Examples of FPCs are elaborated with a focus on miniaturization, self-healing, self-cleaning, integration, biodegradation, and neural control. Furthermore, the applications of FPC-based tactile sensors in tactile perception, human–machine interaction, and healthcare are further described. Finally, the existing limitations and technical challenges for FPCs-based tactile sensors are briefly discussed, offering potential avenues for the development of electronic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, a multimodal tactile sensing module that can improve the dexterous manipulation capabilities of robots with parallel grippers is reported. The tactile sensor consists of a 4 × 4 matrix 3‐axis force sensor array (with spacings of 2 mm) and a single‐temperature sensor. The tactile sensor uses inorganic silicon and gold as materials for the detection of strain and temperature and a polymer‐based elastomer to encapsulate the sensing layer. The sensing module is equipped with a readout circuitry for signal processing. Within the measurable force range (≈1.5 N) of the sensor cell, a prototype module exhibits a repeatability error within 2%, a hysteresis error within 3%, and a resolution as small as 10 mN. Furthermore, each sensor cell independently measures 3‐axis forces with a cross‐talk error of approximately 3%. The temperature sensor exhibits linear output properties in the approximate range of 5–75 °C. Experiments are performed by mounting the module on a parallel gripper to grasp a paper cup and a reflex hammer toy. According to the experimental results, the sensor can accurately detect the state of contact with an object by analyzing three tactile modalities (i.e., 3‐axis force distribution, vibration, and temperature). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of pressure sensors of high sensitivity and stable robustness over a broad range is indispensable for the future progress of electronic skin applicable to the detection of normal and shear pressures of various dynamic human motions. Herein, we present a flexible capacitive tactile sensing array that incorporates a porous dielectric layer with micro-patterned structures on the surface to enable the sensitive detection of normal and shear pressures. The proposed sensing array showed great pressure-sensing performance in the experiments, with a broad sensing range from several kPa to 150 kPa of normal pressure and 20 kPa of shear pressure. Sensitivities of 0.54%/kPa at 10 kPa and below, 0.45%/kPa between 10 kPa and 80 kPa, and 0.12%/kPa at 80 kPa and above were achieved for normal pressures. Meanwhile, for shear pressures, sensitivities up to 1.14%/kPa and 1.08%/kPa in x and y directions, respectively, and below 10 kPa, 0.73%/kPa, and 0.75%/kPa under shear pressure over 10 kPa were also validated. The performance of the finger-attached sensing array was also demonstrated, demonstrating which was a potential electronic skin to use in all kinds of wearable devices, including prosthetic hands, surgical robots, and other pressure monitoring systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]