Pneumatic Tactile Sensor for High Sensitivity and Noise Immunity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tactile sensors face issues with hysteresis phenomena and noise from external electromagnetic fields and temperature, limiting their sensitivity and stability, especially in extreme environments like water, and have a narrow range of stress sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A pneumatic-based tactile sensor system that separates pneumatic generators and receivers through a pneumatic line, using a tactile sense transmitting unit to generate pneumatic pressure and a receiving unit to measure displacement via magnetic resistance sensors, minimizing hysteresis and noise sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a force/torque sensor with 6-way degree of freedom is used, then the tactile sensor can sense contact pressure and instant slip, but the sensing portion size is relatively large resulting in low sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The tactile sensor is divided into separate functional components: a sensing portion with a small sensing area that converts force to pneumatic pressure, and a separate sensor unit that measures the pressure. This segmentation allows the sensing portion to maintain a small size for high sensitivity while the overall system retains full measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic pressure transmission to amplify and transmit the force signal from a small sensing area to a larger measurement point. The pneumatic system allows the small sensing portion to generate sufficient pressure signal for accurate measurement without requiring a large sensing area.
2Reliability
If a static tactile sensor using flexible polymer-based nanocomposite material is used, then the sensor can transmit stress from outside, but hysteresis phenomenon occurs and noise exists due to external electromagnetic field and temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces direct electrical sensing with pneumatic pressure transmission. The sensing portion converts mechanical force to pneumatic pressure, which is then transmitted to the sensor unit. This mechanical-to-pneumatic substitution eliminates the sensor's direct exposure to electromagnetic fields and temperature variations, reducing noise and improving signal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Pneumatic pressure serves as an intermediary medium between the external force and the sensor unit. Instead of directly measuring force with an electrical sensor exposed to environmental interference, the system uses pneumatic pressure as a mediator to transmit the force information to a protected sensor unit, isolating it from harmful external factors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tactile sensor is exposed to extreme conditions such as in water, then the sensor can operate in diverse environments, but electronic devices cannot be used and sensitivity is reduced when stress range is wide
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing portion uses a flexible polymer-based nanocomposite material that can operate in extreme environments including water. The flexible membrane transmits external force to the pneumatic system while being compatible with harsh environmental conditions, enabling the sensor to function where rigid electronic sensors would fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The pneumatic pressure transmission system allows the sensor to operate in water and extreme environments by using incompressible fluid (pneumatic pressure) as the signal transmission medium. This approach maintains sensitivity across wide stress ranges while being immune to electromagnetic interference and temperature variations that would affect electronic sensors in the same environment.
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 solution enables non-contact sensing of external forces with improved sensitivity and accuracy, allowing operation across varying temperatures and in water, while controlling sensitivity and measurement range through flux intensity and magnet position.
Implementation Method 1
a tactile sense transmitting pneumatic unit for generating pneumatic pressure by an external load applied to a first side
Implementation Method 2
a magnetic resistance sensor unit for measuring a size of the load by sensing a flux intensity of the flux-based displacement unit by use of a magnetic resistance sensor
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pneumatic-based tactile sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a tactile sense transmitting pneumatic unit for generating pneumatic pressure by an external load applied to a first side; and a tactile sense receiving sensor unit for measuring the load by transforming a magnitude of pneumatic pressure of the tactile sense transmitting pneumatic unit into a displacement.