Soft Magnetoelastic Tactile Multi-Sensors with Energy-Absorbing Properties for Self-Powered Human–Machine Interfaces

Tactile sensors play a key role in human-machine interfaces (HMIs) for augmented and virtual reality, point-of-care devices, and human-robot collaboration, which show the promise of revolutionizing our ways of life. Here, we present a sensor (EMTS) that utilizes the magnetoelastic effect in a soft metamaterial to convert mechanical pressure into electrical signals. With this unique mechanism, the proposed EMTS simultaneously possesses self-powering, waterproof, and compliant features. The soft metamaterial is essentially a porous magnetoelastomer structure designed based on the Fourier series expansion, which allows for programmable mechanical response and sensing performance of the EMTS. Fabricated by simple 3D-printed molds, the EMTS also holds potential for low-cost production. Particularly, the porous magnetoelastomer structure comes with selectable buckling instabilities that can significantly enhance biomechanical-to-electrical energy conversion. Also, with the embedded magnetic microparticles, the energy-absorbing performance of the sensor is greatly improved, which is highly beneficial to HMIs. To pursue practical applications, the EMTSs are further integrated with two systems as control and perception modules. It is demonstrated that the EMTS is able to identify different hand gestures to control a lighting system even in a high-humidity environment. Also, the EMTS stands out for its superior capability of simultaneous impact perception and energy absorption in drop tests. Overall, with its compelling array of features, the presented EMTS gives impetus to multi-sensing technology and practically enables a variety of HMI applications.