Detection of Positive and Negative Pressure in a Double-Chamber Underwater Thruster

TL;DR

This paper introduces a flexible pressure sensor inspired by skin structures, capable of detecting both positive and negative underwater pressure changes quickly and accurately.

Contribution

A biomimetic capacitive pressure sensor with rapid response and stability for underwater thrusters is developed.

Findings

The sensor detects pressures from −5.2 to 6.3 kPa with high linearity.

It has a response time of 52 ms and recovery time of 40 ms.

The sensor is stable and suitable for underwater negative pressure detection.

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to develop a compact, rapid-response pressure sensor for underwater propulsion. Flexible pressure sensors are widely utilized in human–computer interactions and wearable electronic devices; however, manufacturing capacitive sensors that offer a broad pressure range and high sensitivity presents significant challenges. Inspired by the dermal papillary microstructure, a capacitive pressure sensor was prepared by infusing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) inside an anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template and then demolding it. The resulting pressure sensor exhibits several key characteristics: high linearity in the range of −5.2 to 6.3 kPa, a comprehensive range for both positive and negative pressure sensing in air or water environments, a quick response time of 52 ms, a recovery time of 40 ms, and excellent stability. The sensor presented in this work is innovatively applied to detect underwater negative pressure, and it is employed for the swift detection of positive and negative pressure changes in underwater thrusters. This work highlights the promising potential of biomimetic flexible capacitive pressure sensors across various applications.

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