Hidden flaw in robotic touch sensors
The team’s study unearthed a hidden flaw in conductive elastomer composites—materials widely used in flexible sensors for robotics and wearable electronics. Their study reveals that an ultrathin insulating layer forms on the surface of these composites during production, significantly affecting the accuracy and reliability of sensor performance.
Electrical engineers and polymer materials scientists worked to address a long-standing problem: inconsistent and irreproducible sensor data caused by poor electrical contact preparation.