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Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications
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Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications

A Special Issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220) belonging to the section "Sensors and Robotics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2027 | Viewed by 7708

Editor

Dr. Xiaohui Yi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CAS Key Laboratory of Magnetic Materials and Devices, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China
Interests: magnetic functional materials and their sensing application

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of flexible pressure/force sensors has revolutionized sensing technologies, enabling their seamless integration into dynamic environments. These sensors, characterized by their deformability, lightweight nature, and high sensitivity, have emerged as pivotal tools in advancing fields such as healthcare, robotics, consumer electronics, and industrial automation. Recent breakthroughs in materials science have enhanced their performance, durability, and adaptability. This Special Issue highlights cutting-edge research on flexible sensor design, fabrication techniques, and real-world applications. It explores how these sensors contribute to innovative solutions, from wearable health monitors and tactile sensors in robotics to smart infrastructure and precision control in manufacturing.

Dr. Xiaohui Yi
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • flexible sensors
  • tactile sensing
  • wearable technology
  • IoT applications
  • smart systems
  • material innovation
  • prosthetics
  • robotics
  • healthcare monitoring
  • industrial automation
  • nanomaterials
  • conductive polymers
  • piezoelectric materials
  • magnetic elastomer
  • sensor integration
  • aerospace engineering

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2956 KB  
Article
A Standalone Capacitive Tactile Fingertip Module for Multi-Point Contact Sensing in Robotic Grasping
by Suncheol Kwon, Dongwoo Nam, Wonseok Shin and Bummo Ahn
Sensors 2026, 26(15), 4756; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26154756 - 27 Jul 2026
Viewed by 435
Abstract
Tactile sensing can enhance robotic grasping by providing contact information unavailable from vision or control signals alone. However, implementing tactile sensing in robotic hands is often constrained by external wiring, data-acquisition hardware, power requirements, and limited fingertip space. This study presents a self-contained [...] Read more.
Tactile sensing can enhance robotic grasping by providing contact information unavailable from vision or control signals alone. However, implementing tactile sensing in robotic hands is often constrained by external wiring, data-acquisition hardware, power requirements, and limited fingertip space. This study presents a self-contained capacitive tactile fingertip module for adding wireless multi-point contact sensing to robotic grippers. The module integrates a 3 × 1 array of thin flexible capacitive sensors, a capacitance-to-digital converter, a Bluetooth-enabled microcontroller, and an onboard battery within a compact fingertip-shaped housing. It can be mounted in place of an existing fingertip and operates independently of the robotic hand controller. Individual sensors characterized before module integration responded near-linearly to normal compression up to 2.5 N, with an approximately 8% relative capacitance change at 2.5 N and R2 = 0.99, and were evaluated over 100 repeated compression cycles. In proof-of-concept grasping tests with an empty PET bottle, a water-filled PET bottle, and a water-filled aluminum tumbler, the assembled module produced distinguishable capacitance changes at the mid- and proximal-position sensors, providing relative information on contact location and local loading rather than calibrated force. These results demonstrate the feasibility of wireless tactile sensing in robotic grasping using a compact standalone fingertip module. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications)
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20 pages, 2613 KB  
Article
Development of an Instrumented Glove for Palmar Pressure Assessment in Kayakers
by Corentin Depontailler, Gurvan Jodin, Corentin Porcon, Clémence Alglave, Antoine Marin and Florence Razan
Sensors 2026, 26(12), 3966; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26123966 - 22 Jun 2026
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Understanding hand–paddle interaction is essential for optimizing performance and preventing injury in kayaking, yet coaches still lack objective, practical tools. We present a soft, instrumented glove that measures and dynamically maps palmar pressure throughout the stroke cycle. A matrix of piezoresistive sensors is [...] Read more.
Understanding hand–paddle interaction is essential for optimizing performance and preventing injury in kayaking, yet coaches still lack objective, practical tools. We present a soft, instrumented glove that measures and dynamically maps palmar pressure throughout the stroke cycle. A matrix of piezoresistive sensors is integrated into the glove and connected to dedicated electronics housed in a waterproof enclosure. A viscoelastic model converts sensor resistance into forces, enabling time-resolved 3D mapping of contact mechanics. Data are transmitted via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Experimental validation on a kayak ergometer across multiple cadences demonstrated accurate measurements (per-sensor root mean square error (RMSE) of ±2 N), clear delineation of pull and push phases, evolving pressure distribution over the motion, and a peak total right-hand force of 186 N at high cadence. Beyond feasibility, these results position the glove as a practical training aid: it supports athlete-specific load monitoring and the early detection of potentially problematic movement patterns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications)
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10 pages, 734 KB  
Article
Electromyographic Assessment of the Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles: Pilot and Descriptive Study of a Vocal Function Assessment Protocol
by Jéssica Ribeiro, André Araújo, Andreia S. P. Sousa and Filipa Pereira
Sensors 2025, 25(20), 6430; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25206430 - 17 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1413
Abstract
Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and test a surface electromyography (sEMG) assessment protocol to characterise the activity of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles (suprahyoid and infrahyoid) during phonatory tasks and vocal techniques. Methodology: The protocol of assessment was based on [...] Read more.
Aim: The aim of this study was to develop and test a surface electromyography (sEMG) assessment protocol to characterise the activity of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles (suprahyoid and infrahyoid) during phonatory tasks and vocal techniques. Methodology: The protocol of assessment was based on electromyographic assessment guidelines and on clinical voice evaluation needs and was tested in six healthy adults with no vocal disorders. Surface electromyographic activity of suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles was acquired during different reference tasks (rest, reading, maximum contractions) and six vocal tasks, including nasal sounds, fricatives, and semi-occluded vocal tract exercises. A laryngeal accelerometer was used for detecting the beginning and end of each exercise. The average activity during each task was normalised by the signal obtained in the incomplete swallowing task for the SHM and by the sniff technique for the IHM. Results: The range of activation values varied across tasks, with higher percentages observed in plosive production and in the “spaghetti” technique, while nasal and fricative sounds tended to show lower activation values within the group. A consistent pattern of simultaneous activation of suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles was observed during phonation. Conclusions: The protocol proved potential for clinical application in speech–language pathology as it enabled the characterisation of muscle activity in determinant muscles for vocal function. Larger samples and further validation of the time-marking system are needed. This study provides a foundation for integrating sEMG measures into functional voice assessment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications)
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16 pages, 5479 KB  
Article
On the Effect of Layering Velostat on Force Sensing for Hands
by Tyler Bartunek, Ann Majewicz Fey and Edoardo Battaglia
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 3245; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25103245 - 21 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2550
Abstract
Force sensing on hands can provide an understanding of interaction forces during manipulation, with applications in different fields, including robotics and medicine. While several approaches to accomplish this have been proposed, they often require relatively complex and/or expensive fabrication techniques and materials. On [...] Read more.
Force sensing on hands can provide an understanding of interaction forces during manipulation, with applications in different fields, including robotics and medicine. While several approaches to accomplish this have been proposed, they often require relatively complex and/or expensive fabrication techniques and materials. On the other hand, less complex and expensive approaches often suffer from poor accuracy of measurements. An example of this is provided by sensors built with Velostat, a polyethylene–carbon composite material that exhibits resistance changes when force is applied. This material is both cheap and easy to work with, but sensors made from Velostat have been shown to suffer from low accuracy, limiting its usefulness. This work explores the effect of stacking multiple layers of 0.1 mm Velostat sheets on accuracy, using no additional fabrication techniques or other material aside from electrode connections, with the rationale that this is both economical and can be accomplished easily. We evaluate measurement error for designs with different numbers of layers (1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20, and 30) against a load cell, and also compare this with the error for a USD 10 commercial force sensing resistor designed for measurement of hand forces (FSR 402) in three evaluations (static, cyclic, and finger base interactions). Our results show that layered sensors outperform both the one-layer design and the commercial FSR sensor consistently under all conditions considered, with the best performing sensors reducing measurement errors by at least 27% and as much as 60% when compared against the one-layer design. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications)
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15 pages, 3240 KB  
Article
Optimized Magnetization Distribution in Body-Centered Cubic Lattice-Structured Magnetoelastomer for High-Performance 3D Force–Tactile Sensors
by Hongfei Hou, Ziyin Xiang, Chaonan Zhi, Haodong Hu, Xingyu Zhu, Baoru Bian, Yuanzhao Wu, Yiwei Liu, Xiaohui Yi, Jie Shang and Run-Wei Li
Sensors 2025, 25(7), 2312; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25072312 - 5 Apr 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2053
Abstract
Flexible magnetic tactile sensors hold transformative potential in robotics and human–computer interactions by enabling precise force detection. However, existing sensors face challenges in balancing sensitivity, detection range, and structural adaptability for sensing force. This study proposed a pre-compressed magnetization method to address these [...] Read more.
Flexible magnetic tactile sensors hold transformative potential in robotics and human–computer interactions by enabling precise force detection. However, existing sensors face challenges in balancing sensitivity, detection range, and structural adaptability for sensing force. This study proposed a pre-compressed magnetization method to address these limitations by amplifying the magnetoelastic effect through optimized magnetization direction distribution of the elastomer. A body-centered cubic lattice-structured magnetoelastomer featuring regular deformation under compression was fabricated via digital light processing (DLP) to validate this method. Finite element simulations and experimental analyses revealed that magnetizing the material under 60% compression strain optimized magnetization direction distribution, enhancing force–magnetic coupling. Integrating the magnetic elastomer with a hall sensor, the prepared tactile sensor demonstrated a low detection limit (1 mN), wide detection range (0.001–10 N), rapid response/recovery times (40 ms/50 ms), and durability (>1500 cycles). By using machine learning, the sensor enabled accurate 3D force prediction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Flexible Pressure/Force Sensors and Their Applications)
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