Polymer/paper-based double touch mode capacitive pressure sensing element for wireless control of robotic arm

TL;DR

This paper presents a low-cost, flexible polymer/paper-based double touch mode capacitive pressure sensor with a large linear range, used for precise wireless robotic arm control.

Contribution

It introduces a simple garage fabrication process for a flexible, large-area pressure sensor with multiple pressure regions and high sensitivity, enabling wireless robotic control.

Findings

Operates effectively across multiple pressure regions

Demonstrates high sensitivity and linearity

Enables precise wireless robotic arm control

Abstract

In this work, a large area, low cost and flexible polymer/paper-based double touch mode capacitive pressure sensor is demonstrated. Garage fabrication processes are used which only require cutting, taping and assembly of aluminum (Al) coated polyimide (PI) foil, PI tape and double-sided scotch tape. The presented pressure sensor operates in different pressure regions i.e. normal (0 to 7.5 kPa), transition (7.5 to 14.24 kPa), linear (14.24 to 54.9 kPa) and saturation (above 54.9 kPa). The advantages of the demonstrated double touch mode capacitive pressure sensors are low temperature drift, long linear range, high pressure sensitivity, precise pressure measurement and large die area. The linear output along with a high sensitivity range (14.24 to 54.9 kPa pressure range) of the sensor are utilized to wirelessly control the movement of a robotic arm with precise rotation and tilt movement capabilities.