Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin

Collaborative robots need to work with people in shared spaces interactively, so a robotic e‐skin with large‐area contact sensing capability is a crucial technology to ensure human safety. However, realizing real‐time contact localization and intensity estimation on a robot body with a large area of...

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Main Authors: Rui Jiao, Zhengjun Wang, Ruoqin Wang, Qian Xu, Jiacheng Jiang, Boyang Zhang, Simin Yang, Yang Li, Yik Kin Cheung, Fan Shi, Hongyu Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Advanced Intelligent Systems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202400903
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author Rui Jiao
Zhengjun Wang
Ruoqin Wang
Qian Xu
Jiacheng Jiang
Boyang Zhang
Simin Yang
Yang Li
Yik Kin Cheung
Fan Shi
Hongyu Yu
author_facet Rui Jiao
Zhengjun Wang
Ruoqin Wang
Qian Xu
Jiacheng Jiang
Boyang Zhang
Simin Yang
Yang Li
Yik Kin Cheung
Fan Shi
Hongyu Yu
author_sort Rui Jiao
collection DOAJ
description Collaborative robots need to work with people in shared spaces interactively, so a robotic e‐skin with large‐area contact sensing capability is a crucial technology to ensure human safety. However, realizing real‐time contact localization and intensity estimation on a robot body with a large area of continuous and complex surfaces is challenging. Herein, a novel large‐area conformal Kirigami structure that can be customized for complex geometries and transform small‐area planar sensor arrays into large‐area curved conformal e‐skin is proposed. This sensor network can effectively detect Lamb/guided wave responses generated by transient hard contact. Additionally, a convolutional neural network‐based deep learning algorithm is implemented to decode the features of guided wave signals and predict the contact location and energy intensity on the robot surface. With the deep learning‐based method, the accuracy of collision localization can reach 2.85 ± 1.90 mm and the prediction error of collision energy can reach 9.8 × 10−4 ± 8.9 × 10−4 J. Demonstrations show that the proposed method can provide real‐time on‐site contact sensing, providing a promising solution for future intelligent human–robot interaction.
format Article
id doaj-art-d0598a6d690a4ec68cafaa5dc457778f
institution Kabale University
issn 2640-4567
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Advanced Intelligent Systems
spelling doaj-art-d0598a6d690a4ec68cafaa5dc457778f2025-08-21T11:05:47ZengWileyAdvanced Intelligent Systems2640-45672025-08-0178n/an/a10.1002/aisy.202400903Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐SkinRui Jiao0Zhengjun Wang1Ruoqin Wang2Qian Xu3Jiacheng Jiang4Boyang Zhang5Simin Yang6Yang Li7Yik Kin Cheung8Fan Shi9Hongyu Yu10Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaAcademy of Interdisciplinary Studies The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaDepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Kowloon Hong Kong SAR ChinaCollaborative robots need to work with people in shared spaces interactively, so a robotic e‐skin with large‐area contact sensing capability is a crucial technology to ensure human safety. However, realizing real‐time contact localization and intensity estimation on a robot body with a large area of continuous and complex surfaces is challenging. Herein, a novel large‐area conformal Kirigami structure that can be customized for complex geometries and transform small‐area planar sensor arrays into large‐area curved conformal e‐skin is proposed. This sensor network can effectively detect Lamb/guided wave responses generated by transient hard contact. Additionally, a convolutional neural network‐based deep learning algorithm is implemented to decode the features of guided wave signals and predict the contact location and energy intensity on the robot surface. With the deep learning‐based method, the accuracy of collision localization can reach 2.85 ± 1.90 mm and the prediction error of collision energy can reach 9.8 × 10−4 ± 8.9 × 10−4 J. Demonstrations show that the proposed method can provide real‐time on‐site contact sensing, providing a promising solution for future intelligent human–robot interaction.https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202400903deep learningguided waveskirigami structureslarge‐area contact sensingrobotic e‐skins
spellingShingle Rui Jiao
Zhengjun Wang
Ruoqin Wang
Qian Xu
Jiacheng Jiang
Boyang Zhang
Simin Yang
Yang Li
Yik Kin Cheung
Fan Shi
Hongyu Yu
Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
Advanced Intelligent Systems
deep learning
guided waves
kirigami structures
large‐area contact sensing
robotic e‐skins
title Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
title_full Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
title_fullStr Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
title_full_unstemmed Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
title_short Deep Learning Based Large‐Area Contact Sensing for Safe Human–Robot Interaction Using Conformal Kirigami Structure‐Enabled Robotic E‐Skin
title_sort deep learning based large area contact sensing for safe human robot interaction using conformal kirigami structure enabled robotic e skin
topic deep learning
guided waves
kirigami structures
large‐area contact sensing
robotic e‐skins
url https://doi.org/10.1002/aisy.202400903
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