Development and application of nanogenerators in humanoid robotics

Nanogenerators have garnered significant attention in the field of robotics due to their high performance, ease of design and fabrication, and lightweight nature. By utilizing such sensing systems, machines can be endowed with specific sentience capabilities. Moreover, sensors that based on nanogenerators can operate continuously without requiring an external power source. The following paper presents a comprehensive review of recent developments and applications of nanogenerator-based sensors in robotics in recent years. These sensors are categorized according to their sensory functions (including tactile, hearing, smell, vision and displacement, etc.), with a focus on their working mechanisms, materials and structures. Furthermore, this review investigates the usage of these devices in flexible manipulators and human-machine interfaces. Finally, the challenges and opportunities pertaining to nanogenerator-based sensors are discussed.