Stretchable, skin-conformable neuromorphic system for tactile sensory recognizing and encoding

Abstract

Expanding wearable technologies to artificial tactile perception will be of significance for intelligent human–machine interface, as neuromorphic sensing devices are promising candidates due to their low energy consumption and highly effective operating properties. Skin-compatible and conformable features are required for the purpose of realizing wearable artificial tactile perception. Here, we report an intrinsically stretchable, skin-integrated neuromorphic system with triboelectric nanogenerators as tactile sensing and organic electrochemical transistors as information processing. The integrated system provides desired sensing, synaptic, and mechanical characteristics, such as sensitive response (~0.04 kPa−1) to low-pressure, short- and long-term synaptic plasticity, great switching endurance (>10 000 pulses), symmetric weight update, together with high stretchability of 100% strain. With neural encoding, demonstrations are capable of recognizing, extracting, and encoding features of tactile information. This work provides a feasible approach to wearable, skin-conformable neuromorphic sensing system with great application prospects in intelligent robotics and replacement prosthetics.