Flexible Dynamic Schottky DC Generator for Bio-inspired Robotic Tactile Sensing and Manipulation

The integration of self-powered sensing mechanisms with robotic framework holds immense potential for enhancing robotic autonomy and operational efficiency. This presentation introduces a novel approach to address this paradigm through the development of a Flexible Dynamic Schottky direct-current (DC) Generator, tailored explicitly for self-powered robotic tactile sensing and manipulation. Such a new mechanism is based on the novel tribovoltaic effect, where a high DC current can be generated at sliding metal/semiconductor or P-N junctions. Compared to the transient AC output in traditional piezoelectricity/triboelectricity, tribovoltaic effect can produce 3-4 orders’ higher DC current density. The integration in this work represents a pioneering advancement in self-powered multimodal and multidirectional tactile sensing, which mimics the functionalities of slow-adapting (SA) and fast-adapting (FA) mechanoreceptors in human sensory systems. The new technology incorporates flexible Schottky junctions optimized for dynamic energy conversion, enabling seamless integration into robotic hand systems. Through detailed analyses and experimental validation, we demonstrate the adaptability, efficiency, and reliability of using dynamic DC generator for bio-inspired static and dynamic friction sensing, and the optimization of feedback loop control for slip detection and mitigation.

Dr. Jun Liu is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The State University of New York at Buffalo. He is also an adjunct faculty in UB RENEW (Research and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water) Institute. He has been an Associate Editor of Energy Technology (Wiley) since 2022. Dr. Liu received his PhD (2018) in Materials Engineering from the University of Alberta, Canada. He was a Postdoc Fellow in Chemical and Biological Engineering at SUNY Buffalo (2018-2020). Dr. Liu is passionate about understanding fundamental physics at materials surface and interfaces for energy harvesting and sensing, and developing related technologies for future Human-machine Interaction, Smart robotics, manufacturing, and healthcare applications. He has 50+ refereed publications in high-profile journals such as Science, Nature Nanotechnology, Science Advances, Matter, Nano Letters, Advanced Functional Materials, Nano Energy. and holds multiple US/PCT patents. He is the recipient of many awards such as 2022 SONY Faculty Innovation Award, 2020 Microsystem and Nanoengineering (MINE) Young Scientist Award (Springer Nature), 2019 Best Scientific Research Award (Nanosymposium on Scanning Probe Microscopy), 2018 National Award for Outstanding Graduate Student Overseas, 2015 Alberta Innovates–Technology Futures (AITF) Graduate Student Award. Dr. Liu’s research has been supported by many agencies as well as industrial partners (Sony, Corning, etc.).