Test of triboelectric effect for tactile sense of fast adaptation

Abstract

We test the triboelectric effect to implement the function of human tactile receptors for fast adaptation (FA). A tactile sensor is prepared with a typical triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) structure. To verify the tactile sensing capability of such a self-powered sensor, we test frequency response characteristics and detection of periodic, non-periodic, and roughness patterns. It has been confirmed that response characteristics to vibration have proper accuracy and excellent SNR up to 1400 Hz, which is wider than the human vibration detection range through the FA receptor. The sensor's capability to extract surface roughness information is also verified through a test of surface texture to acquire and reconstruct tactile information from both periodic and non-periodic patterns.