A preliminary study on characterisation of finger interface kinetics using a pressure and shear sensor system

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Robotics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Human hands utilize pressure and shear detection for object interaction.
• Existing pressure sensors are common, but simultaneous pressure and shear detection at the fingertip is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel sensor system for detecting both pressure and shear forces at the fingertip.
• To assess the feasibility of this sensor system through single-subject testing.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, proof-of-concept study was conducted.
• One healthy subject performed single-finger and hand-grasping tasks.
• A specialized sensor system measured multidirectional loads (pressure and shear) in real-time.

Main Results:

• The sensor system captured peak pressures up to approximately 50 kPa (5 N) and shear forces up to 30 kPa (3 N).
• Grasping tasks revealed increased grip force and non-uniform load distribution across digits.
• The sensor system demonstrated adequate resolution, dynamic response, and load capacity.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensor system is feasible for capturing biomechanical data during grasping.
• This technology can serve as a tool for hand function assessment.
• Potential applications include tactile feedback systems for prosthetic hands.