Combination of Piezoelectric and Triboelectric Devices for Robotic Self-Powered Sensors

Sensors are an important part of the organization required for robots to perceive the external environment. Self-powered sensors can be used to implement energy-saving strategies in robots and reduce their power consumption, owing to their low-power consumption characteristics. The triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) and piezoelectric transducer (PE) are important implementations of self-powered sensors. Hybrid sensors combine the advantages of the PE and TENG to achieve higher sensitivity, wider measurement range, and better output characteristics. This paper summarizes the principles and research status of pressure sensors, displacement sensors, and three-dimensional (3D) acceleration sensors based on the self-powered TENG, PE, and hybrid sensors. Additionally, the basic working principles of the PE and TENG are introduced, and the challenges and problems in the development of PE, TENG, and hybrid sensors in the robotics field are discussed with regard to the principles of the self-powered pressure sensors, displacement sensors, and 3D acceleration sensors applied to robots.