Self-Powered Mechanical Sensing
Related research topics in our group:
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Pressure and strain sensing
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Tactile sensing
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Soft robotics
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Conformal electronics
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Battery-free electronics
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The Innovation: We create pressure and strain sensors that generate their own signal without external power. These stimulus-responsive materials convert mechanical deformation directly into electrical output through the piezoionic effect.
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Key Advantages:
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Truly Self-Powered: No batteries or external wiring required
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Conformal & Large-Area: Can be fabricated into thin, flexible sheets that conform to complex surfaces
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Scalable Manufacturing: Compatible with printing and roll-to-roll processes
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Applications Enabled:
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Wearable Health Monitors: Continuous, unobtrusive monitoring of physiological movements and vital signs
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Smart Interfaces: Responsive surfaces for human-computer interaction and augmented reality
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Soft Robotics: Providing proprioception and tactile sensing for adaptive grippers and robotic skins
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Piezoionic Enhancement: Unlike resistive or capacitive sensors that require power to measure change, piezoionic sensors generate power from the measurement itself. This enables battery-free operation, simplified system architecture, and distributed sensing networks that were previously impractical with conventional technologies.
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