PSU: Flexible tensile and compression sensors for bionic prostheses (strain gauges)

Main article: Bionic prostheses

2023: Development of flexible tensile and compression sensors for bionic prostheses

Scientists at Penza State University have developed flexible tension/compression sensors (strain gauges), which can also be used to make bionic prostheses. This was announced on August 28, 2023 by TASS, Dr. Tekhn. Sciences, Head of the Department of Nano- and Microelectronics Igor Pronin.

source = Yuri Smityuk/TASS

The team of the scientific project set itself a number of tasks, the solution of which will allow to receive tension/compression sensors with a low cost in the near future. A feature of devices of this type is the simplicity of converting stretching/compression into an electrical signal: with mechanical deformation of the fiber, its electrical resistance changes, "said Igor Pronin, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Head of the Department of Nano- and Microelectronics.

The flexible sensor was made from polymer fibers decorated with zinc oxide nano- and microstructures.

Ivan Filippov, a graduate student of the department, has developed a set of technological modes that allow growing zinc oxide nano- and microcrystallites on the surface of polymer threads. The original automated installation allows you to obtain fabrics based on polystyrene and ABS plastic with any necessary microstructure, - said Andrei Karmanov, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Nano- and Microelectronics, PSU.

According to the authors of the project, strain gauges can also be used to create elements of robots, smart clothing. The development of a flexible sensor was carried out within the framework of the project of the Russian Science Foundation^[1].

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