Grant: Alliance Grants

The proposed project aims to expand on a collaboration between the University of Waterloo and Forcen to advance the development and manufacturing of high-performance flexible thin-film sensors. Forcen's conventionally-made force sensing films are being used to advance the adoption of smart robotic systems in the medical, aerospace, and manufacturing industries. They allow robots to interact with the physical world by providing them with sensors needed to receive tactile feedback. This project aims to research novel processing techniques for the fabrication of these sensors, such that they can be used in extreme environments and can be more easily customized for each unique application.This research aims to further our understanding of the surface chemistry/physics that allow materials to bond together, and the ways in which manufacturing processes can modify these surface properties. The interaction of these bonded materials with the environment, including exposure to low and high humidity/temperatures, UV radiation, and electromagnetic interference, will be studied to achieve longer sensor lifetimes and increased performance.The benefits of establishing advanced sensor manufacturing capabilities in Canada are numerous. Canadian industries as a whole will benefit from having a locally-established world leader in automation-enabling sensors. The presence of Forcen as a local manufacturer is critical to ensuring a robust supply chain of the advanced sensors needed by manufacturers and technology developers. As companies in other countries adopt new technologies to improve efficiency and productivity, it is critical that Canadian companies continue to pioneer new innovations and maintain a competitive advantage.