Nanomaterials-based, transducer-side active-electronic-free, self-powered, and wireless wearable E-skin for augmented interactive human-robots

Wearable and flexible force sensors are vital for human-machine interfaces, robotics, and remote sensing applications, but most sensors rely on batteries, active electronics, are environmentally unstable, and have wireless transmission difficulties. To address these challenges, we introduce, for the first time, a fully passive, battery-free, self-powered, miniaturized force sensing system that transmits wirelessly at frequencies above 400 MHz, without active electronics on the transducer side. Our MXene-based Triboelectric Nanogenerator Resonance Force-Sensing System (MXTENG-RFS) harnesses the sensed force to power itself, enabling long-term operation in remote environments. This system also employs resonant frequency shifts—immune to environmental factors, to effectively convey sensed information. Supported by an innovative frequency and amplitude boosting approach, the MXTENG-RFS achieves active-electronic-free wireless data transmission while maintaining minimal power consumption and electromagnetic emissions. The device is maintenance-free and stealth-compatible. Through precise nanomaterial engineering, we have achieved high power density, robust sensing performance, and long-term environmental stability. Furthermore, pioneering 3D-multi-nanomaterial printing protocols have been developed to enable scalability, large-scale production, rapid prototyping, low cost, design freedom, and high resolution for the MXTENG-RFS devices. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated a wearable e-skin for augmented interactive human–drone operation—providing battery-free, self-powered, and wireless drone control—ideal for reconnaissance and surveillance in remote environments. By enabling self-powered operation, electronic-free and direct, transmission, passive design, wireless functionality, robustness, a miniaturized form, low cost, and user-friendliness, we envision our MXTENG-RFS system as a maintenance-free sensing and communication solution ideally suited for resource-limited environments, space missions, and critical remote areas.