Recent Progresses on Multifunctional Tactile Sensors for Electronic Skins and Human-Machine Interaction Applications

• Systematically integrates four core sensing mechanisms with cutting-edge material innovations (2019–2025) : For the first time, it categorizes piezoelectric, piezoresistive, triboelectric, and capacitive tactile sensors by their physicochemical principles, constructing a "material-mechanism-performance" roadmap. This framework incorporates landmark advances such as Liu et al.’s (2024) hierarchical structural design for wide-range detection, Kang et al.’s (2024) wireless integrated e-skin, and a 2025 PVDF-based hybrid piezoelectric-triboelectric platform with 200% enhanced output, addressing the fragmentation gap in existing reviews. • Critical evaluation of state-of-the-art multimodal signal decoupling strategies: Targeting the long-standing crosstalk bottleneck, it dissects two validated solutions with 2022–2025 evidence: signal decoupling (e.g., Yin et al.’s graphene-based temperature-pressure separation) and structural optimization (e.g., Xie et al.’s 2024 triboelectric-capacitive static/dynamic pressure array). It further benchmarks Yang et al.’s (2025) interference-free dual-mode sensing against emerging architectures like 2024 leather-based printed sensor arrays, providing actionable design guidelines. • Bridges e-skin and human-computer interaction (HCI) to reveal the "multimodal system" paradigm shift: Breaking disciplinary silos, it positions multifunctional tactile sensors as the "perceptual core" linking Song et al.’s (2023) collagen organogel e-skin for health monitoring and Yang et al.’s (2024) triboelectric-optical hybrid sensors for immersive HCI. This integration aligns with 2024 dual-modal e-skin for bidirectional human-robot interaction and 2025 AI-driven tactile perception systems, highlighting the field’s move beyond single-function devices. • Identifies three urgent unresolved challenges grounded in 54 recent studies: Based on critical analysis of 2019–2025 literature, it pinpoints persistent bottlenecks: unaddressed signal interference despite Yang et al.’s (2025) advances, lack of human-like pain perception in e-skins, and nascent AI-tactile integration. These insights resonate with 2025 breakthroughs like Tactile-Diffusion Policies for robotic manipulation and super-resolution sensor arrays enabled by deep learning, guiding targeted future research. In recent years, traditional unimodal sensing mechanisms have exhibited significant limitations, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for composite signal acquisition. Consequently, an increasing number of scholars have dedicated themselves to the research of multifunctional tactile sensors. Characterized by high sensitivity, a wide-range detection capability, rapid dynamic response, and excellent repeatability, multifunctional tactile sensors have evolved into a critical interface in robot-environment interaction processes. Application fields such as electronic skin systems and human-machine interaction interfaces are becoming focal points of academic attention. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of multifunctional tactile sensors in the field, focusing on the material properties, device design, and performance differences of different sensing mechanisms such as piezoelectric, piezoresistive, triboelectric, and capacitive. Through horizontal comparison, the study reveals the comparative advantages and trade-offs of these sensors in various application scenarios. It also systematically elaborates on their specific applications in electronic skin construction, health monitoring, and human-machine interaction scenarios. Finally, it summarizes the core challenges currently faced by multifunctional tactile sensors in terms of signal crosstalk, environmental stability, and integration process, and envisions future directions for breaking through bottlenecks by integrating interdisciplinary approaches such as artificial intelligence, advanced materials, and novel architectures. In recent years, traditional single sensing mechanisms have exhibited significant limitations, making it difficult to meet the growing demand for composite signal acquisition. Consequently, an increasing number of scholars have dedicated themselves to the research of multifunctional tactile sensors. Characterized by high sensitivity characteristics, wide-range detection capability, rapid dynamic response, and excellent repeatability, multifunctional tactile sensors have evolved into a critical mediating carrier in robot-environment interaction processes. Application fields such as electronic skin systems and human-machine interaction interfaces are becoming focal points of academic attention. This paper systematically reviews the research progress and significant achievements of multifunctional tactile sensors in recent years. Based on their current shortcomings, their future development paths and application potential in electronic skin construction and human-machine interaction technology are elucidated.