A Sensitive Skin Using Wireless Tactile Sensing Elements

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a method to realize a flexible robot skin that covers wide robot surfaces. We attach a film type of a 1-D coil array that transmits electrical power to wireless tactile sensing elements and obtains sensor signals from them. Then we cover the robot bone with an elastic sensor skin containing wireless sensing chips. Since the skin can move on the bone freely, the skin does not prevent large motions of robot body. The tactile elements without wires bring a tough and elastic sensor skin. The concept of wireless tactile sensing, the design of the film coil array, and a new design of a wireless tactile sensing chip are shown.