Aug 27, 2025

New fiber sensors bring human-like touch to robots and smart textiles

Graphene at the fiber's multi walled core increases resistance on pressure, delivering flexible, sensitive touch sensing for robots, prosthetics and clothing.

(Nanowerk News) Scientists in Japan have created a new kind of pressure sensor that could change how robots and smart textiles sense touch (Advanced Materials, "Fibrous Pressure Sensor with Unique Resistance Increase under Partial Compression: Coaxial Wet‐Spun TiO2/Graphene/Thermoplastic Polyurethane Multi‐Wall Multifunctional Fiber"). Instead of becoming more conductive when squeezed—like most sensors—these fibers do the opposite. They increase resistance, a breakthrough that makes them far more effective in applications where flexibility and precision matter.

The research team, led by Associate Professor Chunhong Zhu at Shinshu University, engineered what they call TGTMW (TiO₂/graphene/thermoplastic polyurethane multi-wall fibers) fibers. Built through a wet-spinning process, the fibers feature a tough outer shell and a multi-layered core packed with graphene nanoplatelets. When compressed, the layers inside shift and form tiny cracks, disrupting the flow of electricity. This sharp rise in resistance creates a reliable and highly sensitive signal—strong enough to pick up something as light as a fingertip press.

Traditional pressure sensors are usually bulky and rigid, making them difficult to weave into fabrics or embed in prosthetics. Fiber-shaped designs like TGTMW open up new possibilities because they can be spun, stretched, and integrated into wearable systems or robotic fingertips. Their slim profile allows for precise tactile sensing that could improve soft robotic grippers used in medical care, where both safety and sensitivity are crucial.

Beyond detecting pressure, the fibers can also recognize different types of touch. By analyzing signals from a small array of fibers, the team demonstrated that their system could tell the difference between pressing and sliding motions. This ability to sense friction is key to giving robots a human-like sense of dexterity.

The researchers see potential well beyond robotics. Smart textiles made with TGTMW fibers could enable gesture-controlled garments or interactive surfaces, even in environments where touchscreens fail, such as underwater or in space.

“This is more than just a new sensor—it’s a new architecture for tactile sensing,” says Zhu. “The versatility and sensitivity of these fibers could open the way to entirely new applications in robotics, wearables, and beyond.”

Source: Shinshu University (Note: Content may be edited for style and length)