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ESR14 - Neural Nanowire Based Tactile Skin

Develop self-powered e-skin with neural nanowire field effect transistors based neural data processing hardware.

TAGS   Biological Touch   Prosthetics   Technologies for Touch

Overview

Objectives

Develop self-powered e-skin with neural nanowire field effect transistors based neural data processing hardware. Graphene is a proven nanomaterial for the fabrication of sensitive e-skin due to attributes such as flexibility, optical transparency and large area monolayer structure. Recent, a self-powered e-skin system combining a transparent graphene tactile sensor with a photovoltaic cell was shown to sufficient power (~20 nWcm−2) for the system to attain energy autonomy. Integration of such a tactile sensor with robotic and prosthetic limbs with smart data processing hardware is hugely beneficial. Additionally, we propose to use nanowires based neuromorphic circuits, that we demonstrated to be effective to carry out intricate tactile data processing. In this project, the ESR will develop graphene based e-skin and integrate it with υ-NWFET circuits. CVD graphene will be transferred over transparent PVC substrate using hot lamination technique and this will be followed by deposition of metal electrodes. Commercial PV cells will be integrated with the graphene sensor layer to obtain energy-efficient skin. Silicon NWs based floating gate FETs will be fabricated as a building block for neuromorphic data processing circuits.

Expected Results

A new strategy to process tactile information in robotic and prosthetic systems and the corresponding hardware neural network system based on Si nanowires.

Secondments

  • RUG

    training on neuromorphic enigneering

  • IIT-iCub

    e-skin comparison with POSFET devices with basic neural building blocks

  • SensArs

    upcoming

Supervisors

  • R. Dahiya

  • E. Chicca

  • C. Bartolozzi

  • F. Petrini

Luca De Pamphilis

I first approached the study of nanotechnologies as I got fascinated by the quantum behaviour of nanostructures and their peculiar properties with respect to bulk materials. Growing more and more interested in the possible technological advancements allowed by the application of nanostructured materials and nanostructures, I focused my personal course of studies on nanotechnologies. Having learnt about the challenges that lie ahead for the research in this field, it is my desire to contribute to overcome them.

Neutouch for me

A stimulating, multidisciplinary project, Neutouch gives me the opportunity to put my background on nanotechnology into practice and face nanostructure integration challenges, co-working with researchers with different experiences and cultures, in a joint effort to tackle all the different aspects of an ambitious goal.

Info

  • Research Topics

    Nanoengineering

  • Institution

     University of Glasgow

  • Background

    B.Sc. Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology (Politecnico di Milano, 2013-2017)
    M.Sc. Materials Engineering and Nanotechnology (Politecnico di Milano, 2017-2020)