Bioinspired soft electroreceptors for artificial precontact somatosensation

Artificial haptic sensors form the basis of touch-based human-interfaced applications. However, they are unable to respond to remote events before physical contact. Some elasmobranch fishes, such as seawater sharks, use electroreception somatosensory system for remote environmental perception. Inspired by this ability, we design a soft artificial electroreceptor for sensing approaching targets. The electroreceptor, enabled by an elastomeric electret, is capable of encoding environmental precontact information into a series of voltage pulses functioning as unique precontact human interfaces. Electroceptor applications are demonstrated in a prewarning system, robotic control, game operation, and three-dimensional object recognition. These capabilities in perceiving proximal precontact events can lenrich the functionalities and applications of human-interfaced electronics.

Automated summary

Artificial haptic sensors are crucial for touch-based human-interfaced applications, but they lack the ability to respond to remote events. Inspired by the electroreception somatosensory system of elasmobranch fishes, researchers have developed a soft artificial electroreceptor that can sense approaching targets and encode the information into voltage pulses for human interaction. This electroreceptor has demonstrated applications in prewarning systems, robotic control, game operation, and three-dimensional object recognition, enhancing the functionalities and applications of human-interfaced electronics.