Design and Fabrication of Thin Film Nanowrinkled Strain Sensors for a Finger Flexion Assessment Glove

Overview

Strain sensors undergo a piezoresistive effect in which mechanical deformations result in a change in electrical resistance. Recent advances in stretchable strain sensors using deposits of nanoparticles coupled with flexible polymers have made them thinner and wearable. This study aims to optimize the fabrication parameters of thin film sensors and use the sensors to design a finger flexion assessment glove which maps changes of resistance to the computer screen to display finger movement. This glove system could be used as a rehabilitation tool for hand function impairment by performing dynamic recordings of finger bending angles to monitor patient progress and displaying results on a graphic user interface. The project comprised of three parts: sensor fabrication, hardware interface, and software data processing. Flexible platinum and gold strain sensors were fabricated on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with nanowrinkles to increase strain capabilities. Silicone glue, electric paint, and PDMS were used to adhere the sensors to wires and the glove. The hardware interface consisted of five voltage divider circuits connected using a perfboard, an Arduino microcontroller. Software code was written in Processing to allow for real-time data acquisition and graphic user interface of finger movements. The accuracy and consistency of sensor measurements were assessed using a laser-cut test setup, and the response of the sensor to bending shows errors comparable to other strain sensors in literature. The system can display finger movements in real time with no noticeable delay. With further optimization, these sensors can be a low-cost alternative for wearable human motion detection applications.

Competition history

• AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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