Low-Cost Graphite on Paper Pressure Sensor for a Robot Gripper with a Trivial Fabrication Process

Sensors (Basel). 2018 Oct 1;18(10):3300. doi: 10.3390/s18103300.

Abstract

A flexible pressure sensor with a rudimentary, ultra-low cost, and solvent-free fabrication process is presented in this paper. The sensor has a graphite-on-paper stacked paper structure, which deforms and restores its shape when pressure is applied and released, showing an exceptionally fast response and relaxation time of ≈0.4 ms with a sensitivity of -5%/Pa. Repeatability of the sensor over 1000 cycles indicates an excellent long-term stability. The sensor demonstrated fast and reliable human touch interface, and successfully integrated into a robot gripper to detect grasping forces, showing high promise for use in robotics, human interface, and touch devices.

Keywords: graphite on paper; paper switch; resistive pressure sensor.