Flexible Temperature Sensor Array using Electro-Resistive Polymer Forhumanoid Artificial Skin

Abstract

This paper presents a novel method to fabricate temperature sensor arrays by dispensing electro-resistive polymer on flexible polyimide films. The sensor array can be used as humanoid artificial skin for sensation system of robots. Polydimethlysiloxane (PDMS) was used as the matrix of the electro- resistive composites and different conductive fillers such as carbon black, graphite powder, carbon nano- fibrils have been investigated. It was found that graphite powder serves as the best conductive filler for highest temperature sensitivity and better stability. The volume fraction of the graphite powder for large dynamic range from 20degC to 100degC has been investigated and was found to be 20%. The detected temperature contours are in well agreement with the shapes and magnitudes of different heat sources.