Work

Numerical Investigation of Halbach-Array-Based Flexible Magnetic Sensors for Wide-Range Deformation Detection

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Flexible magnetic tactile sensors hold great promise for wearable electronics and intelligent robotics but often suffer from limited strain range and complex magnetic field variations due to rigid-soft coupling between the Hall sensor and magnetic layer. In this study, we propose a Halbach-array-based magnetic tactile sensor that structurally decouples the soft magnetic deformation layer from the rigid Hall sensing unit. The sensor embeds k = 2 Halbach-configured magnetic cubes within a PDMS matrix, while the Hall element is fixed at a remote, rigid location. Numerical analysis using COMSOL Multiphysics demonstrates that the Halbach configuration enhances magnetic field strength and uniformity, achieving mT-level detection even at a distance of 15 mm. Moreover, the Halbach array effectively reduces the field distribution from three-dimensional to one-dimensional, enabling stronger directionality, simplified data processing, and higher sensing frequency. This work establishes a theoretical framework for wide-range, high-precision magnetic tactile sensing through magnetic field tailoring, providing valuable guidance for the design of next-generation flexible sensors for wearable, robotic, and embodied intelligence applications.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s25237240

Authors: Yina Han, Shuaiqi Zhang, Chenglin Wen, Jie Han, Wenbin Kang, Zhiqiang Zheng

Institutions: Xi'an Jiaotong University, City University of Hong Kong

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic Field Sensors Techniques

Subfield: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137