Optical micro/nanofiber enabled tactile sensors and soft actuators: A review

Abstract

As a combination of fiber optics and nanotechnology, optical micro/nanofiber (MNF) is considered as an important multifunctional building block for fabricating various miniaturized photonic devices. With the rapid progress in flexible opto-electronics, MNF has been emerging as a promising candidate for assembling tactile sensors and soft actuators owing to its unique optical and mechanical properties. This review discusses the advances in MNF enabled tactile sensors and soft actuators, specifically, focusing on the latest research results over the past 5 years and the applications in health monitoring, human-machine interfaces, and robotics. Future prospects and challenges in developing flexible MNF devices are also presented.