(image: Pixabay)
POHANG, March 1 (Korea Bizwire) — A South Korean research team has developed a highly elastic pressure sensor by imitating the sensory organ of crocodile skin.
The research team from the Pohang University of Science and Technology and the University of Ulsan said Tuesday it had developed a pressure sensor using a microdome structure and a wrinkled surface structure.
Crocodiles can detect the direction of prey by sensing the motion of the waves in the water using their highly developed and sensitive skin.
The sensory organ of crocodile skin consists of hemisphere-shaped sensory neurites and a folded area with wrinkles between them.
When crocodiles move, only the folded area between sensory neurites is transformed and the sensory sensing area on top of the neurites remains unaffected.
By imitating the sensory organ of crocodile skin structurally and functionally, the research team realized a pressure sensor consisting of a highly polymerized elastic body with fine wrinkles and a hemisphere-shaped structure.
The newly-developed sensor maintains a high level of sensitivity to pressure even if it is stretched by 100 percent in one direction and 50 percent in two directions.
The pressure sensor is expected to be used in various kinds of wearable devices such as artificial legs and hands and robots.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
