Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Force And Slip Detection With Direct-Write Compliant Tactile Sensors Using Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Polymer Composites, Morteza Vatani, Erik Engeberg, Jae-Won Choi

Dr. Jae-Won Choi

A mechanically compliant tactile sensor has been developed through direct-write (DW) deposition of a flexible conductive nanocomposite embedded between flexible polyurethane materials. Dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in a flexible and photocurable monomer introduced electrical and piezoresistive properties to the polymer which was used for the flexible conductive nanocomposite. Dispensing experiments were performed using the developed DW system to precisely create and embed the sensor elements between polyurethane substrates. From the experimental results, several flexible sensors including highly stretchable sensor elements (wires) were fabricated. Experiments were also performed to show that the sensor could detect applied forces at distinct …