On July 28, 2017, the scientific research team led by Professor Hu Chenguo of the School of Physics of Chongqing University, in collaboration with the team led by Academician Wang Zhonglin from Beijing Nano Energy Institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, publishes a research paper titled “Eye motion triggered self-powered mechnosensational communication system using triboelectric nanogenerator” on Science Advances as a subordinate of the Science, with Chongqing University as the first author’s organization, and Pu Xianjie and Guo Hengyu as first co-authors. This is the first paper that has been issued by CQU on the Science Advances. This paper has been drawing extensive attention and wide coverage in the international scientific circle and media circle since its publication.
The sense organ controlled human-machine interface (HMI) can establish a natural communication path between the human and exterior equipment to improve the life quality of human beings. For example, a “conscious” blink can turn the light on/off. In a traditional system in which the electrooculogram (EOG) is used to realize human-machine interaction, the detection of blink is based on the extremely weak bio-electricity signals, and the subtle movement of the skin near the temple caused by the blink is ignored. The subtle movement/displacement sensor built based on triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) is extremely sensitive to the subtle movement, and compared to traditional EOG exploring electrode, it has improved durability and stability. This means that the blink controlled exterior equipment may come to our real life from the lab.
The paper describes a mechnosensational TENG sensor (msTENG) designed based on the nano power generation technology, which is able to obtain high-sensitivity, stable and continuous blink signal collection given the ingenious attachment to the eyes. It uses the eye subtle-movement sensor for human-machine interaction to build the oculomotor controlled electrical appliances, the oculomotor virtual typing interface and other human-machine interactive systems. The technology is deemed as the “third hand”, and is applicable not only to ALS patients and patients with locked-in syndrome, but also to ordinary persons. The research findings add new design ideas to the sense organ controlled human-machine interaction field and promotes the intelligent control to serve human beings.
The research findings have been gaining extensive attention in the international scientific circle and media circle since it release. Recently, Asian Scientist, New Scientist, German National Radio, Xinhua News Agency and other foreign and domestic media interviewed the paper author and reported the research findings. In particular, ScienceNet has covered the findings on its home page; www.cailiaoniu.com has reported those findings with texts and figures; XinhuaNet, people.com.cn, China News, China Youth Net, China Education Net, Global Net, www.cctv.com, PhoenixNet, Tencent, Sina, Netease, and Sohu have also reported the research findings.
The research has been funded by Natural Science Foundation of China, Chongqing Natural Science Foundation, 863 Program and Operating Expense on Basic Scientific Researches in Colleges and Universities Granted by the Central Government.
Paper links: X. Pu, H. Guo, J. Chen, X. Wang, Y. Xi, C. Hu, Z. L. Wang, Eye motion triggered selfpowered mechnosensational communication system using triboelectric nanogenerator. Sci. Adv. 3, e1700694 (2017). http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/3/7/e1700694
