摘要
Mechanoreceptors are essential components of the somatosensory system that convert received mechanical signals into electrical signals that can be sent to the brain. These receptors provide the ability to sense a variety of stimuli from the external environment, including touch, vibration, and heat. Mechanoreceptors do not convert signals monotonically; in addition, several fundamental characteristics are embedded in mechanoreceptors, including thresholds and adaptation properties. In this study, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a van der Waals stacking field-effect transistor (VS-FET), which was inspired by an FET with a floating gate structure, to realize the important characteristics of mechanoreceptors. The VS-FET can not only demonstrate the fundamental biological functions but also produce other unique properties such as fatigue and accommodation. We also integrated an artificial touch receptor with an array of the proposed VS-FET to demonstrate the feasibility of these devices experimentally in artificial humanoid systems. Recent progress in the development of anthropomorphic mechanosensors has been reported for applications in both humanoid robotics and neuroprosthetics. Mechanoreceptors are essential components of the somatosensory system that convert received mechanical signals into electrical signals that can be sent to the brain. These receptors provide the ability to sense a variety of stimuli from the external environment, including touch, vibration, and heat. In this study, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated a van der Waals stacking field-effect transistor (VS-FET), which was inspired by an FET with a floating gate structure, to realize the important characteristics of mechanoreceptors. The biological functions of the mechanoreceptors including thresholds, adaptation, fatigue, and accommodation were emulated by VS-FET. We also integrated an artificial touch receptor with an array of the proposed VS-FET to demonstrate the feasibility of these devices experimentally. We proposed and experimentally demonstrated a van der Waals stacking field-effect transistor (VS-FET), which was inspired by an FET with a floating gate structure, to realize the important characteristics of mechanoreceptors. The fundamental biological functions of the mechanoreceptors including thresholds and adaptation properties, and other unique properties such as fatigue and accommodation, were emulated by VS-FET. We also integrated an artificial touch receptor with an array of the proposed VS-FET to demonstrate the feasibility of these devices experimentally.