Highly-sensitive, absolute and self-powered triboelectric angular sensors for industrial robots

In the field of industrial automation, angular sensor plays a significant role due to its function to control the precise operation of industrial robotics. There is an urgent and great need while a lacking field for high-performance, ultra-precise and low-cost angular sensors. In this study, we design a self-powered absolute and highly sensitive angular sensor to build an angular monitoring system and an angular sensor architecture for industrial robots. Using the non-contact triboelectric nanogenerator technology based on electrostatic induction coupling effect, the angular sensor possesses high sensitivity of 0.132 V/°/s and a high resolution of 0.035°. The multi-strip non-contact electrode structure is optimized in the system. It possesses advantages of no additional power supply, excellent frequency response, high output sensitivity, large measurement range and strong anti-jamming ability. When combined with smart robots, angular sensors demonstrate accurate angular measurement and high response speed, enabling human-computer interaction. The adjustable resolution of the angular sensor is achieved by adjusting the internal gear drive, which can be used to naturally amplify the angular rotation characteristics. A motion rehabilitation detection system is proposed, which can simplify the signal processing circuit and has a simple and reliable structure. This research shows that the new generation of high precision, super durability, self-powered angular sensor system with non-contact triboelectric nanogenerator technology has significant advantages and can be widely used in the field of industrial robotics and rehabilitation aids. [Display omitted] •A self-powered absolute, highly sensitive angular sensor based on TENG is proposed for industrial robotics.•The angular sensor possesses high sensitivity of 0.132 V/°/s and a high resolution of 0.035°.•The angular sensor exhibits excellent stability after 50,000 reciprocations.•The angular sensor shows advantages compared to other principle commercial angular sensors.•Self-powered sensor for high-precision industrial robotics and rehabilitation aids were presented.