An optical fiber Bragg grating tactile sensor

Abstract

Tactile sensors are needed for many emerging robotic and telepresence applications such as keyhole surgery and robot operation in unstructured environments. We have proposed and demonstrated a tactile sensor consisting of a fibre Bragg grating embedded in a polymer "finger". When the sensor is placed in contact with a surface and translated tangentially across it measurements on the changes in the reflectivity spectrum of the grating provide a measurement of the spatial distribution of forces perpendicular to the surface and thus, through the elasticity of the polymer material, to the surface roughness. Using a sensor fabricated from a Poly Siloxane polymer (Methyl Vinyl Silicone rubber) spherical cap 50 mm in diameter, 6 mm deep with an embedded 10 mm long Bragg grating we have characterised the first and second moment of the grating spectral response when scanned across triangular and semicircular periodic structures both with a modulation depth of 1 mm and a period of 2 mm. The results clearly distinguish the periodicity of the surface structure and the differences between the two different surface profiles. For the triangular structure a central wavelength modulation of 4 pm is observed and includes a fourth harmonic component, the spectral width is modulated by 25 pm. Although crude in comparison to human senses these results clearly shown the potential of such a sensor for tactile imaging and we expect that with further development in optimising both the grating and polymer "finger" properties a much increased sensitivity and spatial resolution is achievable.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1117/12.723843
Divisions: College of Engineering & Physical Sciences > Aston Institute of Photonics Technology (AIPT)
Additional Information: Barbara Cowie ; Thomas Allsop ; John Williams ; David Webb ; Ian Bennion and Matthew Fisher "An optical fiber Bragg grating tactile sensor", Proc. SPIE 6585, Optical Sensing Technology and Applications, 65850I (May 16, 2007); Copyright 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper are prohibited. http://dx.doi.org/10.1117/12.723843
Event Title: Optical Sensing Technology and Applications
Event Type: Other
Event Dates: 2007-04-16 - 2007-04-18
Uncontrolled Keywords: Fibre Bragg Grating sensor,tactile sensor,optical fibre sensor,Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Condensed Matter Physics
ISBN: 978-0-8194-6713-3, 0-8194-6713-8
Last Modified: 24 Jan 2024 08:32
Date Deposited: 22 Oct 2014 11:40
Full Text Link: http://proceedi ... ticleid=1303382
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Conference contribution
Published Date: 2007-05
Authors: Cowie, Barbara
Allsop, Thomas D.P. (ORCID Profile 0000-0001-8905-9014)
Williams, John (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-9554-6633)
Webb, David (ORCID Profile 0000-0002-5495-1296)
Bennion, Ian
Fisher, Matthew

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