Researchers from the University of Tampere in Finland have developed the world’s first soft touch panel that can detect the force of pressure and works without electricity.
The surface can detect the force, area, and location of contact without electricity. The device uses pneumatic channels, which allows it to be used in environments incompatible with electricity, such as MRI machines, etc. Flexible robots and other similar devices used in medicine and other fields can also benefit from the technology.
Made entirely of flexible silicone, the device contains 32 touch-adaptive channels, each of which is only a few hundred micrometers wide. In addition to detecting the force, area, and location of a touch, the device is accurate enough to recognize handwritten letters and multiple simultaneous touches.
The pneumatic device can also be used in environments with strong radiation or when sparks that could be caused by electric current need to be prevented. The flexibility of silicone makes it possible to integrate sensors into places where traditional rigid electronics cannot be used. Another interesting application could be in sensitive prosthetics.
«Soft robotic arms can be used to replace current prosthetic arms, for example on production lines. Because they are soft, they are safer, lighter, and potentially cheaper to manufacture. Touch sensors around the hand will also provide a more delicate grip», — says Dr. Vilma Lampinen.
Wearable devices made of soft materials can also be used in medical rehabilitation. The softness of the design will improve the comfort of use compared to conventional hard devices.
Operation published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems.
Source: TechXplore
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