All-soft multiaxial force sensor based on liquid metal for electronic skin

Abstract

Electronic skin (E-skin) capable of detecting various physical stimuli is required for monitoring external environments accurately. Here, we report an all-soft multiaxial force sensor based on liquid metal microchannel array for electronic skin applications. The proposed sensor is composed of stretchable elastomer and Galinstan, a eutectic gallium-indium alloy, providing a high mechanical flexibility and electro-mechanical durability. Liquid metal microchannel arrays are fabricated in multilayer and positioned along a dome structure to detect multi-directional forces, supported by numerical simulation results. By adjusting the height of the dome, we could control the response of the multiaxial sensor with respect to the deflection. As a demonstration of multiaxial force sensing, we were able to monitor the direction of multidirectional forces using a finger by the response of liquid metal microchannel arrays. This research could be applied to various fields including soft robotics, wearable devices, and smart prosthetics for artificial intelligent skin applications.