Additive Manufacturing of Flexible Sensors for Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

High-performance wearable strain gauges have always been of interest for human-computer interaction. Many sensors have been developed using traditional manufacturing techniques or processes that are costly to replicate. This work showcases the use of commercially available filaments using additive manufacturing technology to create a sensor that can be used to monitor human motion with little user discomfort. A sensor was designed and tested, and it was found to have good sensitivity and reliability. The sensor uses the piezoresistive effect with changes up to 50% when conforming to small-sized objects. The sensor was tested on a glove and found to detect finger motion while grabbing objects or typing on a keyboard.