University of Twente Student Theses
Explorations of 3D printed elastomeric sensors for force and position measurement
Bhuva, N.J. (2024) Explorations of 3D printed elastomeric sensors for force and position measurement.
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| Abstract: | "If you can not measure it, you can not improve it."— Lord Kelvin Improvements in robotic systems and diagnostic equipment for human aid, both depend on an accurate understanding of force and position. To identify mobility problems, create useful rehabilitation aids, and develop robotic prosthetics, accurate force and position sensing are critical, especially for gait analysis. This thesis presents a step in the direction of the development and enhancement of a novel force and position sensor made with 3D Printing of elastomeric plastic. The primary focus of the research is to increase the sensitivity of capacitive and resistive sensing through the modifications like addition of extensions in the electrode layer of the capacitive sensor, as well as the addition of air gaps in the dielectric layer, using a multi-frequency readout. The research process involved conceptualizing the design based on insights from existing studies, followed by mathematical modelling and Finite Element Analysis simulations. The models were used to understand the sensor’s behaviour, and the sensor was fabricated using Fused Deposition Modeling/Fused Filament Fabrication 3D Printing techniques. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the sensor’s performance, focusing on its impedance response under varying force applications at varying positions, with multiple different frequencies simultaneously. The results indicated that the suggested design improvements have the potential to greatly enhance sensor sensitivity, especially with more research into the fabrication technique. This thesis concludes by addressing the research objectives and proposing future work, including explorations in other fabrication methods and adding a layer of the sensor design to avoid drift in measurement, as well as segregating the sensor into smaller sections to have a better readout with the multi-frequency approach. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | EEMCS: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science |
| Subject: | 53 electrotechnology |
| Programme: | Electrical Engineering MSc (60353) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/103312 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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