WSTac: Interactive Surface Perception based on Whisker-Inspired and Self-Illuminated Vision-Based Tactile Sensor
Introducing WSTac, a novel vision-based tactile sensor inspired by the tactile sensitivity of mammalian whiskers. This self-illuminating sensor integrates a mechanoluminescent (ML) whisker elastomer, a camera, and 3D-printed components to achieve ambient light resistance without the need for additional LED modules. The ML whisker elastomer emits light upon mechanical stress, enabling the sensor to capture dynamic contact variations effectively. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, WSTac successfully performs tasks such as speed regression, directional identification, and texture classification, demonstrating its potential for advanced tactile perception applications.