Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors

WANG Tingyu; SHI Keyong; WU Mengwei; TANG Wei

doi:10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

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Article Navigation > Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems > 2025 > Accepted Manuscript

WANG Tingyu, SHI Keyong, WU Mengwei, TANG Wei. Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

Citation:

WANG Tingyu, SHI Keyong, WU Mengwei, TANG Wei. Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

WANG Tingyu, SHI Keyong, WU Mengwei, TANG Wei. Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

Citation:

WANG Tingyu, SHI Keyong, WU Mengwei, TANG Wei. Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors[J]. Journal of Unmanned Undersea Systems. doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

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Recent Advances in Underwater Flexible Sensors

doi: 10.11993/j.issn.2096-3920.2025-0093

WANG Tingyu^{1, 2
,},
SHI Keyong^3
,,
WU Mengwei^4
,,
TANG Wei^{1, 2
,
,}

1.
Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101400, China
2.
School of Nanoscience and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
3.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Tianjin University of Commerce, Tianjin, 300134, China
4.
Marine Engineering College, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian Key Laboratory of Marine Micro/Nano Energy and Self powered Systems, Dalian 116026, China

Received Date: 2025-07-23
Accepted Date: 2025-09-11
Rev Recd Date: 2025-09-06

Available Online: 2025-09-30

Abstract

Abstract

With the increasing demand for ocean exploration, underwater flexible sensors have demonstrated significant potential in various underwater applications due to their exceptional compliance and environmental adaptability. In particular, the integration of underwater flexible sensors in complex environments, such as those with high hydrostatic pressure, large strains, and corrosion resistance, plays a crucial role in enhancing the perception capabilities of underwater soft robots, diving equipment, marine exploration devices, and other marine engineering systems. This review summarizes the latest advancements in the application of resistance, capacitance, piezoelectric, triboelectric, optical fiber, and electromagnetic sensing mechanisms in underwater environments. By comparing the advantages and challenges of different sensing mechanisms, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of their developments in underwater manned systems and soft robots, with a focus on innovative applications in deformation, posture, tactile, and flow field sensing. Furthermore, this paper highlights that overcoming the bottlenecks in adaptability and long-term reliability of underwater flexible sensors requires a focus on multimodal integration, intelligent decoupling, and biomimetic integration technologies. These findings offer new insights and potential solutions for the future development of underwater flexible sensors.
- Underwater soft robots,
- Flexible sensors,
- Proprioception,
- Exteroception

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References(52)

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