Highly Sensitive Flexible Pressure Sensors Based on 3D Printing Technology for Normal and Tangential Force Detection

This paper presents a novel flexible interlocking piezoresistive sensor based on photopolymerization 3D printing technology, capable of effectively identifying normal and tangential forces. Gold nanoparticles are deposited on the microstructure surface through magnetron sputtering, significantly enhancing the sensor’s conductivity. Experimental results show that under the influence of normal and tangential forces, the sensor exhibits rapid and sensitive resistance changes, allowing for precise measurement of various force effects. Furthermore, microscopic photographs and scanning electron microscopy images validate the changes in the sensor’s internal structure under different force fields, confirming the strong adhesion between the gold layer and the substrate. The sensor has been successfully applied in robotic fingers, enabling real-time identification and classification of objects with varying materials and weights, demonstrating its multifunctionality and adaptability in intelligent robotic operations. In summary, the design of this sensor not only improves the precision and efficiency of robotic operations but also opens up new application possibilities in the field of industrial automation, particularly in the advancement of flexible pressure sensors.