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http://dx.doi.org/10.5369/JSST.2019.28.3.198

Wearable Force Sensor Using 3D-printed Mold and Liquid Metal  

Kim, Kyuyoung (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Choi, Jungrak (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Jeong, Yongrok (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Kim, Minseong (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Kim, Seunghwan (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Park, Inkyu (School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering Bldg. (N7), KAIST)
Publication Information
Journal of Sensor Science and Technology / v.28, no.3, 2019 , pp. 198-204 More about this Journal
Abstract
In this study, we propose a wearable force sensor using 3D printed mold and liquid metal. Liquid metal, such as Galinstan, is one of the promising functional materials in stretchable electronics known for its intrinsic mechanical and electronic properties. The proposed soft force sensor measures the external force by the resistance change caused by the cross-sectional area change. Fused deposition modeling-based 3D printing is a simple and cost-effective fabrication of resilient elastomers using liquid metal. Using a 3D printed microchannel mold, 3D multichannel Galinstan microchannels were fabricated with a serpentine structure for signal stability because it is important to maintain the sensitivity of the sensor even in various mechanical deformations. We performed various electro-mechanical tests for performance characterization and verified the signal stability while stretching and bending. The proposed sensor exhibited good signal stability under 100% longitudinal strain, and the resistance change ranged within 5% of the initial value. We attached the proposed sensor on the finger joint and evaluated the signal change during various finger movements and the application of external forces.
Keywords
Wearable sensor; 3D printing; Liquid metal; Force sensor;
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