Biomimetic Electronic Skin for Robots Aiming at Superior Dynamic-Static Perception and Material Cognition Based on Triboelectric-Piezoresistive Effects

Empowering robots with tactile perception and even thinking as well as judgment capabilities similar to those of humans is an inevitable path for the development of future robots. Here, we propose a biomimetic electronic skin (BES) that truly serves and applies to robots to achieve superior dynamic-static perception and material cognition functionalities. First, the microstructured triboelectric and piezoresistive layers are fabricated by a facile template method followed by selected self-polymerization treatment, enabling BES with high sensitivity and a wide detection range. Further, through laminated-independent triboelectric and piezoresistive parts for perceiving dynamic and static pressures simultaneously, the BES is capable of supporting the robot hand to monitor the entire process during object grasping. Most importantly, by further combining a neural network model, an intelligent cognition system is constructed for real-time cognition of the object material species via one touch of the robot hand under arbitrary pressures, which goes beyond the human cognition ability.