F2 Room

Sensors and Actuators

By providing novel sensors and actuators, F2 aims to create immersive and responsive systems facilitating seamless human–machine interactions, driving innovation in medicine, industry, and the Internet of Skills.

Key Questions

Olfactory sensors will be developed to discriminate odors in real environments, with applications in navigation, environmental monitoring, and robotic surgery. Lightweight, flexible tactile interfaces will be integrated into VR/teleoperation devices.

Piezoelectric actuators, composites, and nanomaterials at low dimensions will be used to improve the sensitivity of sensors and the energy autonomy of devices.

Approach

  • Olfactory sensors and wearable interfaces for odor and feedback.
  • AI algorithms to interpret movement and force signals.
  • Thermal actuators and wearable sensors optimized for sterile environments.

 

Expected Results

  • Characterization of new materials; textile strain sensors; thermal actuators (±5 K); 3D-printed tactile skin; TENG materials; compact liquid dielectric actuator; first-generation softness display.
  • Sensors for air pollutants; textile EMG dry electrodes; combined tactile display; textile-integrated piezoelectric composites; tactile skin on teleoperated robots; TENG demonstrator; quantum sensor characterization.
  • Odor localization sensor; textile tilt/pressure sensors; tactile skin for feedback in robotics; embedded TENGs; reduced actuator driving voltage (−20–30%); miniaturized softness display; spinning method for large-area actuators.
  • eNose for disease biomarkers; fully integrable liquid dielectric actuators; quantum sensing for haptic communication and indoor positioning.