Flexible Tactile Sensors Based on 3D Printed Moulds

The paper highlights the work done on the implementation of flexible sensors formed using 3D printing moulds. 3D printing process, being one of the state-of-the-art techniques, has been used to generate moulds. These moulds were subsequently used to develop the sensors with zinc oxide (ZnO) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the processed materials. These two materials were considered due to their low cost, easy processing and enhanced electromechanical characteristics. The developed prototypes were characterized to determine their electrical performance with respect to mechanical deformations. The results for these sensors are promising and form a podium to form full-integrated tactile sensing systems.