A Self-Powered Tactile Sensing Interface For Human-Machine Interaction

Human-machine interfaces (HMIs) are the critical platforms for achieving effective and intuitive operations and control tasks between the user and machine. In this work, we propose a self-powered tactile sensing interface (STI) based on an array of bilayer single-electrode triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) units. For each TENG unit, a pair of innovative, flexible materials, i.e., PET-PDMS and PTFE-PDMS, are arranged in a mosaic pattern, which can serialize the signal peaks and valleys, thus realizing the encoding of tactile sensing information and optimization of the wiring layout. This self-powered, signal-serialized and neatly wired STI can demonstrate the control of intelligent vehicles by detecting touch events.