First non-electric touch panel

Engineers have created the world’s first soft touch panel capable of detecting force, contact location and extension, without electricity. Traditionally, this has always required electronic sensors, but the new touch panel or touchpad does not need electricity, since it uses pneumatic channels integrated into the device to capture tactile information.

The achievement is the work of a team from the University of Tampere in Finland. As far as its creators know, it is the touch panel of its kind in the world.

The non-electronic nature of this touch panel enables it to be used in scenarios or situations where it is not possible to use electronic devices. Electronic sensors may stop working under extreme conditions, such as a strong magnetic field. Since the touchpad is non-electric, it is not affected by a strong magnetic field, making it ideal for use in devices such as MRI scanners.

The pneumatic device can also be used in conditions of strong radiation or in places where even a small spark of electricity would pose a serious danger.

Soft devices, such as soft robots and some devices for rehabilitation of people with certain physical injuries, could also benefit from this new technology.

Made entirely of soft silicone, the device contains 32 adaptive channels, each just a few hundred micrometers wide.

The non-electric touch panel. (Photo: Jonne Renvall / Tampere University)

Tests with this unique touch panel, carried out by Vilma Lampinen’s team, show that, in addition to detecting force, contact location and extension, it has sufficient precision to recognize handwritten letters on its surface and can even distinguish multiple simultaneous touches.

Lampinen and his colleagues present the technical details of the new touchpad and its capabilities in the academic journal Advanced Intelligent Systems, under the title “Soft Micropneumatic Touchpad.” (Fountain: NCYT by Amazings)