Tenso-resistive printed sensors for flexible elements of systems and mechanisms

Abstract

The testing results of developed tenso-resistive (strain-gauge) sensors printed on 2 types of synthetic nonwovens, using 2 modified types of conductive inks based on carbon nanotubes, graphite, for such flexible high-load and stretchable elements as air-inflated structures, amortization groups and especially soft robotics systems and mechanism are presented. The strong correlation “stretch deformation range – electrical resistance – tenso-sensitivity” for each tested nonwovens was found. The sensors developed on synthetic nonwovens with nanotubes were defined to be most suitable for wider deformation control variety (0-80%) as well as humidity control with dividing on 3 narrow sensitive ranges from 0 to 10, 10-30 and 30-80% elongation. The affect of material density as well as prepress surface thermo-modification and environment conditions deviations was checked. The advantages of these sensors are low-cost and simple operation principle in contrast to other commercially available sensors or known prototypes. All of these sensors were produced using a screen-printing technique.