A Coupled Double-Layer Electrical Impedance Tomography-Based Sensing Skin for Pressure and Leak Detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Surface sensors are crucial for robotics, structural health monitoring, and leak detection.
• Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT)-based sensing skins offer a method for monitoring surface phenomena using conductive coatings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and evaluate a novel two-layer sensing skin for detecting surface pressure and leaks.
• To assess the feasibility of using electrical coupling measurements for sensing applications.

Main Methods:

• Developed a sensing skin with two electrically coupled layers separated by an insulator.
• Utilized electrical measurements to estimate the spatial distribution of electrical coupling between layers.
• Conducted simulations and experimental studies to validate the sensing capabilities.

Main Results:

• The electrical coupling within the sensing skin is sensitive to surface pressure distribution.
• The sensing skin effectively detects water ingress, indicating leaks between the layers.
• Both simulations and experiments confirmed the feasibility for pressure sensing and leak detection.

Conclusions:

• The proposed two-layer sensing skin is a viable technology for pressure sensing.
• The sensing skin demonstrates effectiveness in detecting leaks in structures.
• This technology has potential applications in tactile sensing for robotics and structural health monitoring.