Resistance Tuning of Soft Strain Sensor Based on Saline Concentration and Volume Changes

Abstract

Soft sensors have a wide potential in augmenting the functionality of soft robots for healthcare, by providing information without compromising the mechanical compliance. Soft sensors that are based on ionic solutions are of particular interest, as they can be used for in-the-body medical applications due to their biocompatibility. In this paper, we present a soft strain sensor whose resistance is tuned by varying its volume and its ionic concentration. The study opens up the possibility of creating soft sensors whose electrical properties could be adjusted dynamically in fluidic soft robots, in order to suit specific tasks.