Professor Kim Jong-Ku (MSE) and Graduate student Choi Il-yong (MSE) developed a sensor that can sensitively and accurately recognize a tactile response like humans by using Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) nanosprings. The research was introduced in the Advanced Functional Materials.
The team strived to model a pressure device that can sense both minute pressure and vibrations based on human fingerprints and skin. By shaping ITO into a form of nanosprings, the team developed a sensitive sensor that overcomes the limitations of polymers. The nanosprings, created easily by using an oblique angle deposition method, are very elastic and sustainable against constant pressure, allowing the formation of a flexible and credible sensor.
The team successfully assembled an artificial fingerprint that efficiently senses the texture information of an object. The resulting data showed classifying accuracy of 99.8%. 
Prof. Kim hopes that “the technology will become applicable in fields that includes but not limited to smart sensors, security, robotics, and artificial skin.”