Piezoelectric Polymer Tactile Sensor Arrays for Robotics

摘要

This study resulted in the design and fabrication of 16 piezoelectric polymer tactile sensor arrays (PPTSAs) for robotics. Six of these PPTSAs were evaluated for piezoelectric activity. Two of the six were thermal poled and evaluated again for piezoelectric activity. Each PPTSA contained a 5 x 5 array of identical, (3 mm x 3 mm) discrete sensors. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was the piezoelectric polymer used in this study. The PVDF was in two film thicknesses (25 and 40 microns) and in two forms (unmetallized and vendor metallized). The PVDF film had inherent chemical and temperature limitations. Two electrode-structure fabrication processes were developed to accommodate these limitations.