Development of Hybrid Three-axis Load Sensor

Abstract

persons with disabilities A thin and flexible sheet-type three-axis load sensor has been developed by hybridizing two different types of sensors, namely, a commercial sheet-type pressure sensor and a shear force sensor that we previously developed. The total thickness of the sensor was 0.9 mm. We have also developed a control circuit and a computer program for the sensor. Although seven signal lines were required in the original sensor configuration, the number of signal lines could be reduced to six by devising the circuit. The sensor response was as linear as each of the component sensors, and the responses of each of the three axes were nearly independent, without particular combination problems.

Quantitative Measurement of the Pressure and Shear Stress Acting on the Body of a Wheelchair User Using a Wearable Sheet-Type Sensor: A Preliminary Study

“…The sensor used in this study was a thin, flexible sheet-type sensor that was a hybrid of two types of sensors: a commercially available sheet-type pressure sensor (FlexiForce, A201/4.4 N, Tekscan Inc., Norwood, MA, USA) and a previously developed shear force sensor ( Figure 1 ) [ 17 ]. Various thin sensors for pressure measurement are already available on the market, but thin sensors for shear force measurement are generally difficult to obtain, so a hybrid-type thin sensor was used.…”

“…There is a need for thin, flexible sensors that can be placed between the user and the wheelchair to allow measurements in a more natural state. Therefore, we developed a thin and flexible sensor that can measure shear force [ 16 ] and simultaneously measure tri-axis loads with added pressure [ 17 ]. Furthermore, we are working on a system that uses these sensors to quantitatively and continuously measure pressure and shear forces on the surface of a wheelchair seat.…”