Tactile sensors using the distributed optical fiber sensors

Abstract

This paper describes two kinds of the tactile sensors using the optical fiber sensors. One is the tactile sensor using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. Bragg grating inscribed in an optical fiber causes reflect of a spectral component at the Bragg wavelength. This sensor can detect external force using change of the reflective wavelength. The other is the tactile sensor using the microbending optical fiber (MBOF) sensors. The microbending of the optical fiber drives the light transmission loss from the optical fiber. Using the light loss, this sensor can also detect the external force. The structures of these type tactile sensors are very simple. The tactile sensor using FBG sensor consists of an optical fiber which has a Bragg grating and bridge type transducers, and using MBOF sensors is composed of crossed fibers in the silicone rubber. In this paper, we fabricated and evaluated both tactile sensors. The performances of both tactile sensors were verified.