Donghua University spins transistors into soft fibers for robot sensing

Researchers at Donghua University developed a microfluidic encoded spinning method that forms transistors, resistors and capacitors inside a continuous fiber, turning the strand itself into a circuit. The work, led by Meifang Zhu and Gang Wang, was published in Nature Electronics. The fibers were tested in a robotic gripper and in touch-free control of a robotic arm and a drone.

• Microfluidic encoded spinning builds layers and interconnects inside the fiber
• One fiber integrates filters, inverters, digital logic and non-contact sensors
• Sensing fibers on a gripper compute target position and track it automatically
• A flexible fiber interface controlled a robotic arm and a drone without touch