The world’s first non-electric touchpad takes sensor technology to extreme conditions

Researchers at Tampere University have developed the world’s first soft touchpad that can sense the force, area and location of contact without electricity.  The device utilises pneumatic channels, enabling its use in environments such as MRI machines and other conditions that are unsuitable for electronic devices. Soft devices like soft robots and rehabilitation aids could also benefit from this new technology.

Researchers at Tampere University have developed the world’s first soft touchpad that is able to sense the force, area and location of contact without electricity. That has traditionally required electronic sensors, but the newly developed touchpad does not need electricity as it uses pneumatic channels embedded in the device for detection.

Made entirely of soft silicone, the device contains 32 channels that adapt to touch, each only a few hundred micrometres wide. In addition to detecting the force, area, and location of touch, the device is precise enough to recognise handwritten letters on its surface and it can even distinguish multiple simultaneous touches.

“Electronic sensors may stop functioning in extreme conditions, such as in a strong magnetic field. Since the touchpad is not electric, a strong magnetic field does not affect it, which makes it ideal for use in devices such as MRI machines," says Doctoral Researcher Vilma Lampinen.

The sensor technology used in the touchpad enables, for example, that if cancer tumours are found during an MRI scan, a pneumatic robot can take a biopsy while the patient is being scanned. The sensor technology guides this robot together with the data produced by the MRI images.

The pneumatic device can also be used in strong radiation or conditions where even a small spark of electricity would cause a serious hazard.

The flexibility of silicone as a material allows the integration of sensors into applications where traditional hard electronics cannot be used. These include soft robots, which are made of soft rubber-like materials and typically move using pneumatic power.

By adding data collected by sensors to such soft, non-electric devices, it will be possible to map the location, force, and area of touch across the entire surface of the device in the future. In addition to soft robots, advanced prosthetic hands would also benefit from adding a sense of touch.

“Soft robotic hands could be used to replace current prosthetic hands on, e.g., production lines. Being soft, they are safer, lighter and potentially cheaper to manufacture.  Touch sensors around the hand would also enable a more delicate grip,” says Lampinen.

Wearable devices made of soft materials could also be used in rehabilitation, for example, as movement aids.  Softness improves comfort compared to similar hard devices.

The research was published in the prestigious Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS) journal on 23 September 2024. The article is available online.