A Textile-Integrated Pixelated Tactile Sensor Array Based on Interwoven Heterogeneous Polymer Optical Fibers

Abstract

Tactile sensors based on polymer optical fibers (POFs) possess high sensitivity, superior flexibility, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. Nevertheless, the scalable fabrication of sensor arrays capable of accurately resolving multiple contact points remains a challenge. Here, we propose an architecture combining mechanically tailored heterogeneous POFs with a warp-and-weft braided network to achieve high signal-to-noise ratio force measurement and precise localization. This heterogeneous POF architecture is realized by strategically embedding soft-fiber segments within a poly(methyl methacrylate-b-n-butyl acrylate-b-methyl methacrylate) (MAM) fiber backbone, thereby achieving localized mechanical tunability. The results show that the soft fluorinated ethylene propylene/polydimethylsiloxane (FEP/PDMS) POF segment exhibit a robust, material-dependent response to applied force, whereas the MAM fibers remain mechanically insensitive, serving exclusively as optical transmission lines. To construct the sensing network, multiple POFs featuring strategically integrated soft FEP/PDMS segments are interwoven in a warp-and-weft configuration. This architecture forms an array where the sensing nodes are defined by orthogonal soft-fiber intersections. The resulting network enables precise tactile quantification and localization, achieving a force resolution of 0.013 N. This design transforms continuous MAM optical fibers from passive waveguides into discrete, high-sensitivity perception pixels. This pixelation effectively eliminates signal crosstalk and ghosting artifacts, critical bottlenecks inherent in conventional flexible grid sensors. The tactile sensor presents a compelling pathway for advancing wearable sensing technologies in human–computer interaction, soft robotics, and health monitoring.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Heterogeneous optical fiber / Fiber cross-bar / Tactile sensing / Textile-integrated / Multi-channel optical demodulation system

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(52375288)

Jilin Provincial Key Research and Development Plan Project(20230101120JC)

Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 1 (RG72/24)

Singapore Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2(MOE-T2EP50123-0014)

Agency for Science, Technology and Research(M24N7c0079)

Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi Province(2023GXNSFDA026040)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Donghua University, Shanghai, China

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