Development of 3d Printed Soft Pneumatic Hand Motion Sensors
Disciplines
Biology and Biomimetic Materials | Biomechanical Engineering | Biomedical Devices and Instrumentation | Systems and Integrative Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
This paper presents the design, improvement, fabrication and application of a novel 3D printed pneumatic soft sensor. Soft sensors are an integral part of soft robotics as an emerging field of science that enables safe and easy human to machine interaction. The sensors used to interface with humans in conventional robotics systems are mechanically incompliant. Because of this mechanical compliance mismatch, these sensors cause unsafe interactions with humans. Recent advancements in 3D printing technology have allowed more precise geometric modeling with elastic and soft polymers, perfect for more delicate and user-friendly sensors. With improved models for pneumatic sensors using more complex geometric structures, a soft sensor is developed in this work that is suited for a safe human interaction. The body of the sensor consists of a tubing that connects to air pressure sensor to output a reading that can be used to judge the position of the finger or that strength of the hand. Since this sensor is made of one uniform material and is a single 3D printed piece, it is extremely deformable and accurate. The sensor also has a long-life span increasing the amount of time it is usable. Additional advantages of our soft sensor are the greatly increased deformation (making readings more precise) and cheaper to fabricate than conventional sensors. Our sensor has other applications for motion capturing and measuring grip strength for stroke victim rehabilitation.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Amir Ali Amiri Moghadam
Development of 3d Printed Soft Pneumatic Hand Motion Sensors
This paper presents the design, improvement, fabrication and application of a novel 3D printed pneumatic soft sensor. Soft sensors are an integral part of soft robotics as an emerging field of science that enables safe and easy human to machine interaction. The sensors used to interface with humans in conventional robotics systems are mechanically incompliant. Because of this mechanical compliance mismatch, these sensors cause unsafe interactions with humans. Recent advancements in 3D printing technology have allowed more precise geometric modeling with elastic and soft polymers, perfect for more delicate and user-friendly sensors. With improved models for pneumatic sensors using more complex geometric structures, a soft sensor is developed in this work that is suited for a safe human interaction. The body of the sensor consists of a tubing that connects to air pressure sensor to output a reading that can be used to judge the position of the finger or that strength of the hand. Since this sensor is made of one uniform material and is a single 3D printed piece, it is extremely deformable and accurate. The sensor also has a long-life span increasing the amount of time it is usable. Additional advantages of our soft sensor are the greatly increased deformation (making readings more precise) and cheaper to fabricate than conventional sensors. Our sensor has other applications for motion capturing and measuring grip strength for stroke victim rehabilitation.