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Biocompatible Soft Fluidic Strain and Force Sensors for Wearable Devices
Siyi Xu1, Daniel M Vogt1, Wen-Hao Hsu2
1School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
Advanced Functional Materials
|August 3, 2019
Summary
New fluidic soft sensors use a biocompatible liquid for improved human motion capture. These sensors offer high linearity and low hysteresis, enhancing wearable device reliability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Wearable Technology
- Biocompatible Sensors
Background:
- Fluidic soft sensors are crucial for wearable human motion capture.
- Existing sensors face limitations in biocompatibility, signal linearity, and hysteresis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel silicone-based strain and force sensors using a biocompatible conductive liquid.
- To address limitations of current fluidic soft sensors for enhanced performance and safety.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of silicone-based strain and force sensors.
- Utilization of a novel biocompatible conductive liquid (potassium iodide and glycerol solution).
- Characterization of sensor performance, including linearity, hysteresis, sensitivity, and stability.
Main Results:
- Strain sensors demonstrated negligible hysteresis up to 5 Hz (gauge factor of 2.2 at 1 Hz).
- Force sensors exhibited high linearity and low hysteresis (5.3% at 1 Hz) with good sensitivity (100% resistance increase at 5 N).
- Sensor performance remained stable across various temperatures and humidity levels.
Conclusions:
- The developed bio-compatible, low hysteresis, high linearity sensors show significant promise.
- These sensors are suitable for reliable diagnostic devices, advanced wearable motion capture, and compliant human-computer interfaces.
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