Flexible and compact sensors for collecting essential information from the environment are showing growing importance in robotic perception. In particular, flexible, multimodal, and low-form-factor sensors are among t...
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Flexible and compact sensors for collecting essential information from the environment are showing growing importance in robotic perception. In particular, flexible, multimodal, and low-form-factor sensors are among the major needs. In this article, a new sensor based on flexible printed circuits and flexible pressure-sensitive material was fabricated and characterized. To minimize fabrication complexity and improve reliability, the presented sensor builds on an established technology and a simple fabrication process. A layered device that can measure temperature, pressure, and surface material relative permittivity was designed, modeled, and tested. With a response time of 0.3 s, the sensor has high linearity in temperature measurement in the range of -30 degrees C to 120 degrees C. The sensor maintained its structural integrity and functional performance after undergoing a cumulative 10 h of exposure at 120 degrees C, demonstrating its resilience to harsh environments. In pressure measurement, the sensor monitors pressure from 0 to 65 kPa with a response time of 0.01 s, even after being overloaded approximately 50 times above the measuring range. In addition to tactile sensing, the sensor is integrated with the material recognition function based on relative permittivity measurement. This integration allows robots to recognize materials with relative permittivity between 1 and 9.3. Such functionality not only improves the adaptability of robots in various environments but also significantly augments their operational intelligence by providing crucial information about object materials, which is essential for complex task executions. Finally, the sensor was installed on a robotic gripper to simultaneously measure temperature, pressure, and material relative permittivity of surfaces. The flexible and lightweight sensor with its easy integration into robotic manipulators is promising for applications in intelligent sorting, smart factories, and intelligent prosthetic
Addressing the environmental impact of electronic waste in biomedical sensing, an eco-conscious approach to the realization of a Chitosan-based Acetone sensor tag for wireless gas monitoring is presented. The fabricat...
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Addressing the environmental impact of electronic waste in biomedical sensing, an eco-conscious approach to the realization of a Chitosan-based Acetone sensor tag for wireless gas monitoring is presented. The fabrication involves inkjet printing of silver electrodes and antennas on a bio-based, biocompatible, and biodegradable polylactic acid foil, as well as Chitosan coating for sensor functionalization. A hybrid approach is followed for the realization of the sensor readout by integrating a commercial, passive near-field-communication sensor chip on the printed sensor tag. Overcoming challenges in room temperature processing, the applicability and bonding adhesion strength of a commercial pressure-sensitive anisotropic adhesive film for flip-chip bonding is studied. With an average adhesion strength of 5.38 N, the proposed method exhibits great potential for ambient temperature flip-chip integration. Wireless measurements of the sensor show a linear response at an Acetone concentration between 0 and 31 ppm.
Performance of a structural health monitoring (SHM) system depends on the set of sensors distributed across the monitored structure. Optimal deployment of sensors on large-scale structures, such as tied-arch bridges, ...
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Performance of a structural health monitoring (SHM) system depends on the set of sensors distributed across the monitored structure. Optimal deployment of sensors on large-scale structures, such as tied-arch bridges, is a significant challenge. Condition assessment of a bridge is typically based on its displacement response under operational or diagnostic loads. However, direct displacement measurements require reference-based methods, which is problematic for bridges. Consequently, other sensor types that do not require reference points, such as accelerometers or inclinometers, are commonly used in practice. These sensors can indirectly provide displacement information but require sophisticated numerical integration and filtering techniques. Deploying a sensor network becomes even more challenging when it is heterogeneous and simultaneously utilizes sensors of various types. This paper proposes a sensor placement method for distributing such heterogeneous sensor networks. Two computationally efficient procedures are introduced, based on Kalman filtering and response estimation uncertainty. Their effectiveness is demonstrated using a realistic example of a tied-arch bridge located in Poland. One algorithm operates in a discrete greedy manner, while the other fuzzifies the sensor set to convert the originally discrete problem into a continuous one. Their numerical efficiency is related to the computationally inexpensive use of the cross-covariance matrix between the sensor responses and the target responses of interest. Compared to an existing multi-type sensor placement method, the proposed algorithms yield results of comparable quality with several times smaller computational cost.
Automated guided vehicle (AGV), which was initially designed for indoor operations in industry, has been increasingly applied in outdoor heavy-duty logistics tasks. In typical navigation tasks, such as the autonomous ...
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Automated guided vehicle (AGV), which was initially designed for indoor operations in industry, has been increasingly applied in outdoor heavy-duty logistics tasks. In typical navigation tasks, such as the autonomous tracking of a designated object or a person, relative angle and relative distance between AGV and the target is required. To obtain the necessary information, various on-board sensors are extensively integrated. In this paper, the reliability of measuring the relative angle with the Angle-of-Arrival (AoA) method with two different Internet of Things (IoT) sensor sets from Texas Instrument (TI) and u-blox, according to Bluetooth 5.1 was investigated. The performance of IoT sensors was validated with angle accuracy parameters and received signal strength indicator (RSSI). The better IoT sensor was then integrated into the AGV navigation system, and the information gathered from IoT sensor enabled the AGV to turn toward the direction of the target. The process of AGV turning to the targeted direction based on IoT sensor information was respectively tested in the simulation and actual environment and evaluated by the disparity between the real relative angle and the rotation angle of the AGV. The results showed that this disparity was within +/- 5 degrees in both simulated and actual environments, and methods for higher accuracy were proposed. In this way, the reliability and performance of Angle of Arrival (AoA) sensors in measuring the relative angle, which remains unexplored by other researchers, was systematically assessed contributing to extending the usability of AoA sensors in complex, real-world applications.
Over the last decade, flexible electronic technology has been developed intensively and applied in sensor electronics. The use of sensors in a wide range of environments has been demanding a more compact and flexible ...
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Over the last decade, flexible electronic technology has been developed intensively and applied in sensor electronics. The use of sensors in a wide range of environments has been demanding a more compact and flexible platform. This article demonstrates a flexible smart sensor system integrating a p-type polymer field-effect transistor (FET) sensor and a flexible operational amplifier using complementary n-type metal-oxide and organic p-type FETs. The fabricated flexible operational amplifier (OpAmp) showed high differential voltage gain (>100 V/V) and successfully converted the sensing current to output voltage. The sensing functions are integrated in a thin and flexible card format with power provided by a small photovoltaic (PV) module and we demonstrate successful PV-powered operation and detection of gaseous molecular analytes, such as ethanol. The system detects the sensing current change from 114 nA (without ethanol) to 86 nA (with ethanol) and transforms to an output voltage of similar to 1.2 V through the OpAMP. The ethanol sensing output is displayed on an electrophoretic display (EPD) implemented in the system.
Measuring parameters like heart temperature, heart rate, and cardiac magnetic field aids in analyzing cardiac health and disease. A multi-parameter sensor tailored to the heart can significantly enhance convenience in...
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Measuring parameters like heart temperature, heart rate, and cardiac magnetic field aids in analyzing cardiac health and disease. A multi-parameter sensor tailored to the heart can significantly enhance convenience in medical diagnosis and treatment. This work introduces a multi-parameter sensor based on Surface Acoustic Wave sensors (SAWSs) and magnetostrictive materials, designed to selectively measure various cardiac parameters. SAWSs are characterized by their compact dimensions, which facilitate integration into various medical devices. The wireless and passive characteristics of the sensors enable flexibility in the detection process. This sensor can detect various common physical quantities like weak magnetic fields by the control variable method, ensuring a high degree of accuracy. The working mode of SAWSs is investigated in this study, and the relationship curve concerning various influencing factors is established.
With the increasing demand for real-time health monitoring driven by the popularity of wearable devices, there is a growing need for thin, flexible pressure sensors. In this study, we propose a strategy for developing...
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With the increasing demand for real-time health monitoring driven by the popularity of wearable devices, there is a growing need for thin, flexible pressure sensors. In this study, we propose a strategy for developing a flexible ultrathin piezoresistive pressure sensor utilizing a composite of nanofibers and microbeads. The investigation primarily focuses on the effect of incorporating microbeads on nanofiber morphology and the correlation between the surface roughness of the nanofiber membrane and the performance of the pressure sensor. It has been elucidated that the integration of microbeads into nanofiber membranes enhances the performance of the pressure sensor. The prepared sensor has a sensitivity of 1.12 kPa-1, high stability that does not degrade after being pressed for more than 1000 times, and short response time (response/recovery times are 210 ms/140 ms, respectively) that is enough to detect human pulse. Furthermore, we have elaborated on how the choice of materials for the conductive layer, the coating technique, and the spraying duration impact the performance of the piezoresistive pressure sensor. Finally, we demonstrated that the ultrathin flexible pressure sensor can effectively operate on curved surfaces and has been successfully tested on human wrist pulses and carotid pulses. The successful fabrication of this sensor not only expands the fabrication techniques for pressure sensors but also enhances the performance of lightweight and thin pressure sensors, laying a technical foundation for developing pressure sensors suitable for portable devices.
The atomic-vapor cell is a vital component for Rydberg atomic microwave sensors,and impacts on overall capability of Rydberg ***,the conventional analysis approach on effect of vapor-cell length contains two implicit ...
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The atomic-vapor cell is a vital component for Rydberg atomic microwave sensors,and impacts on overall capability of Rydberg ***,the conventional analysis approach on effect of vapor-cell length contains two implicit assumptions,that is,the same atomic population density and buffer gas pressure,which make it unable to accurately capture actual response about effect of Rydberg-atom-based sensor performance on different Rydberg atom ***,utilizing a stepped cesium atomic-vapor cell with five different dimensions at the same atomic population density and buffer gas pressure,the height and full width at half maximum of electromagnetically induced transparency(EIT)signal,and the sensitivity of the atomic superheterodyne sensor are comprehensively investigated under conditions of the same Rabi frequencies(saturated laser power).It is identified that EIT signal height is proportional to the cell length,full width at half maximum and sensitivity grow with the increment of cell length to a certain *** the coherent integration signal theory and atomic linear expansion coefficient method,theoretical analysis of the EIT height and sensitivity are further *** results could shed new light on understanding and design of ultrahigh-sensitivity Rydberg atomic microwave sensors and find promising applications in quantum measurement,communication,and imaging.
Additive technologies, such as aerosol jet printing (AJP) and direct write printing, are increasingly being used in the production of printed circuit boards because they eliminate the need for costly tooling, such as ...
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Additive technologies, such as aerosol jet printing (AJP) and direct write printing, are increasingly being used in the production of printed circuit boards because they eliminate the need for costly tooling, such as photomasks or etching containers. This is because additive methods allow for the direct deposition of printing materials onto a substrate. A design and manufacturing approach based on software also enables production flexibility, as well as speedier tool adjustments and design development. Moreover, additive printing methods could be used on a wide range of materials, including fabrics, vehicles, and polymers with various surfaces and forms. This versatility in a broad variety of applications allows engineers to create diverse applications, such as sensing devices with electro-cardiogram sensors, pulse- oxygen sensors, galvanic skin response sensors, body temperature sensors, humidity sensors, and so on. Due to its potential for adaptability and integration, the development of additively printed humidity sensors has been the subject of several prior investigations. There are still issues with the reliability of current humidity sensor technology when flexing force is coupled with the humidity sensor. For the avoidance of stability issues, it is required to develop a better printing technique, process recipe, and sensing material encapsulation. In this research, the direct-write (D-write) printing approach with an nScrypt printer was employed to print the humidity sensor as a test vehicle in a laboratory setting. The sensor was characterized by analyzing the print recipe and its interaction with humidity in regard to resistance and humidity sensitivity. Additionally, the characterization of sensor accuracy, hysteresis, linearity, and stability in relation to temperature and humidity variation has been measured. Furthermore, a multiphysics simulation model was created in order to comprehend the electrochemical processes that occur when the humidity sensor
A highly sensitive pH sensor based on a tapered single-mode optical fiber (SMF) working at the dispersion turning point (DTP) is proposed, with calcium alginate hydrogel coated on its surface. The tapered SMF is prepa...
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A highly sensitive pH sensor based on a tapered single-mode optical fiber (SMF) working at the dispersion turning point (DTP) is proposed, with calcium alginate hydrogel coated on its surface. The tapered SMF is prepared using a two-step tapering method, and the pH sensor is fabricated by coating the surface of the tapered SMF with calcium alginate hydrogel. Experimental results demonstrate that within the pH range of 7.03-8.45, the sensor exhibits the highest sensitivity at the DTP, with a sensitivity of 115.6 nm/pH. Furthermore, this sensor boasts benefits, including excellent repeatability and rapid response time. Compared with other sensors, the proposed pH sensor demonstrates superior pH sensitivity, simple structure, and low cost, making it highly promising for applications in seawater monitoring and biomedical fields.
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