Embedded Pressure Sensing using Mechanical Metamaterials
This study shows the use of additive manufacturing and graphene inks to create metamaterial piezoresistive structures that have pressure-sensing capabilities to measure gait contact forces.
SEM images of the top/bottom layers
Three structural designs were developed for different measuring ranges (0–50 N, 0–100 N, and 0–150 N) using body-centered cubic (BCC) lattices constructed via pyramid unit cells.
Two graphene infusion processes were evaluated. We analyzed the influence of structural dimensions and the infusion process on the piezoresistive behavior.
The measuring range was affected mainly by tuneable structural dimensions. The infusion process influenced the piezoresistive sensitivity and affected the linearity response. The results indicate the characterization of the sensitivity of piezoresistive sensors based on structural and material properties.
I. Sanz-Pena, M. Hopkins, N.R. Carrero, H. Xu "3D Printed Soft Metamaterial Force Sensors for Gait Monitoring using TPU-Graphene Composites," in Conference Proceedings, 27th European Society of Biomechanics, pp. 318, Jun. 26, 2022, Porto, Portugal.
I. Sanz-Pena, M. Hopkins, N.R. Carrero, H. Xu "Embedded Pressure Sensing Metamaterials using TPU-Graphene Composites and Additive Manufacturing," in IEEE Sensors Journal, vol. 23, no. 15, pp. 16656-16664, Aug. 1, 2023, doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2023.3283460.
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Authors *I. Sanz-Pena, M. Hopkins, N. R. Carrero, H. Xu
Journal IEEE Sensors Journal
*Corresponding author