Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity

Abstract Soft mechanical sensors with high performance, mechanical robustness, and manufacturing reproducibility are crucial for robotics perception, but simultaneously satisfying these criteria is rarely achieved. Here, we suggest a magnetic crack-based piezoinductive sensor (MC-PIS) which exploits...

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Main Authors: Yulian Peng, Zhengyan Wang, Houping Wu, Junchen Luo, Xinxin Chang, Yufeng Wang, Shiwu Zhang, Zhihua Feng, Unyong Jeong, Hongbo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61784-0
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author Yulian Peng
Zhengyan Wang
Houping Wu
Junchen Luo
Xinxin Chang
Yufeng Wang
Shiwu Zhang
Zhihua Feng
Unyong Jeong
Hongbo Wang
author_facet Yulian Peng
Zhengyan Wang
Houping Wu
Junchen Luo
Xinxin Chang
Yufeng Wang
Shiwu Zhang
Zhihua Feng
Unyong Jeong
Hongbo Wang
author_sort Yulian Peng
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Soft mechanical sensors with high performance, mechanical robustness, and manufacturing reproducibility are crucial for robotics perception, but simultaneously satisfying these criteria is rarely achieved. Here, we suggest a magnetic crack-based piezoinductive sensor (MC-PIS) which exploits the strain modulation of magnetic flux in cracked ferrite films. The MC-PIS is insensitive to fatigue-induced crack propagation and environmental changes, showing same performance even when scratched in half or run over by a car. It can detect bidirectional bending with a precision of 0.01° from −200° to 327°, allowing for real-time reconstruction of dynamic shape changes of a flexible ribbon. We demonstrate an artificial finger recognizing surface topology and musical notes via vibrations, a crawling robot responding appropriately to external stimuli, a tree-planting gripper performing consecutive tasks from digging soil, removing stones, to placing trees. The MC-PIS opens a new paradigm to develop ultrasensitive yet highly robust sensors in real-world robotics applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-723f118a1ff04ad38167ddf58ccfe9f0
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-723f118a1ff04ad38167ddf58ccfe9f02025-08-20T04:03:02ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111010.1038/s41467-025-61784-0Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivityYulian Peng0Zhengyan Wang1Houping Wu2Junchen Luo3Xinxin Chang4Yufeng Wang5Shiwu Zhang6Zhihua Feng7Unyong Jeong8Hongbo Wang9Department of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaDepartment of Materials Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Precision Machinery and Precision Instrumentation, University of Science and Technology of ChinaAbstract Soft mechanical sensors with high performance, mechanical robustness, and manufacturing reproducibility are crucial for robotics perception, but simultaneously satisfying these criteria is rarely achieved. Here, we suggest a magnetic crack-based piezoinductive sensor (MC-PIS) which exploits the strain modulation of magnetic flux in cracked ferrite films. The MC-PIS is insensitive to fatigue-induced crack propagation and environmental changes, showing same performance even when scratched in half or run over by a car. It can detect bidirectional bending with a precision of 0.01° from −200° to 327°, allowing for real-time reconstruction of dynamic shape changes of a flexible ribbon. We demonstrate an artificial finger recognizing surface topology and musical notes via vibrations, a crawling robot responding appropriately to external stimuli, a tree-planting gripper performing consecutive tasks from digging soil, removing stones, to placing trees. The MC-PIS opens a new paradigm to develop ultrasensitive yet highly robust sensors in real-world robotics applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61784-0
spellingShingle Yulian Peng
Zhengyan Wang
Houping Wu
Junchen Luo
Xinxin Chang
Yufeng Wang
Shiwu Zhang
Zhihua Feng
Unyong Jeong
Hongbo Wang
Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
Nature Communications
title Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
title_full Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
title_fullStr Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
title_full_unstemmed Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
title_short Magnetic crack-based piezoinductive mechanical sensors: way to extreme robustness and ultra-sensitivity
title_sort magnetic crack based piezoinductive mechanical sensors way to extreme robustness and ultra sensitivity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61784-0
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