A new multifunctional tactile sensing technique by selective data processing

To obtain three parameter tactile information, (contact force, temperature change, and contact situation) using two sensor output signals of a tactile sensor consisting of a mono-material sensing device, a new multifunctional tactile sensing technique using selective data processing is proposed. A pressure-conductive rubber tactile sensor with temperature dependency, which compared with one of the minute sense receptors of the human skin, was experimentally made to confirm the proposed sensing technique. The ability of the sensor was tested under various contact conditions. As experimental results, the usefulness of the proposed multi functional tactile sensing technique was confirmed.