Fluidic Tactile Sensor Manufacturing with Soluble Skin Insert
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current robotic systems lack effective tactile sensing capabilities, which are essential for accurately detecting contact pressures and performing tasks safely and efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing a fluidic tactile sensor involves forming a mold insert with a sensor core and a soluble skin insert, molding an elastic skin over the insert, removing the soluble parts to create cells between the skin and core, and attaching a pressure sensing circuit to the sensor core.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional tactile sensing methods are used, then robots can detect contact pressure, but the sensing capabilities are insufficient for accurate and safe task performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a fluidic system where a flexible membrane encapsulates a fluid-filled chamber with a rigid core. When external pressure is applied to the membrane, the fluid transmits the pressure changes to a pressure sensor, enabling accurate contact pressure detection. This pneumatic-hydraulic mechanism amplifies subtle pressure variations, significantly improving measurement precision and reliability compared to traditional direct mechanical sensing methods.
2Ease of manufacture
If a soluble skin insert is used during molding, then the sensor body can be formed with cells between the elastic skin and sensor core, but an additional solvent removal step is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes a soluble skin insert (made of water-soluble material like PVA) that is molded together with the elastic skin and sensor core. After molding, the soluble insert is extracted by dissolving it in water, creating empty cells between the elastic skin and sensor core. This extraction approach simplifies the overall manufacturing process by enabling integrated molding of multiple components while requiring only a simple water rinsing step for removal, rather than complex assembly procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fluidic tactile sensor enables robust and compliant contact pressure detection with high sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio, allowing robots to perform tasks quickly and safely by providing tactile sensing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
the skin insert is removed at least in part by applying the solvent to the skin insert to at least partially dissolve the skin insert
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing a fluidic tactile sensor includes forming a mold insert having an insoluble sensor core and a soluble skin insert attached to an outer surface of the sensor core. An elastic skin is molded over the mold insert to form a sensor preform in which the skin insert is encapsulated between the elastic skin and the sensor core. The skin insert is removed from between the elastic skin and the sensor core, at least partly by dissolving the skin insert in a solvent, to form a sensor body having one or more cells between the elastic skin and the sensor core. A pressure sensing circuit is attached to the sensor core of the sensor body.