Textile-based pressure sensors for step detection: a preliminary assessment

Abstract

This paper presents the development and performance assessment of textile-based sensor based on a three layer architecture for the step detection. Two different transducing elements (EeonTex™ LG-SLPA and velostat) and electrodes (Satatex Techniktex P-130 and Elitex yarns) were selected for the construction of the sensors. The performance of the resulting sensors was assessed based on a dynamometer cyclic compression/decompression test with different compressions loads and at different speeds. Additionally, a real-life experiment was conducted to evaluate the sensor response during walking. The results show that all sensors configurations have a non-linear resistance-force relation. The best sensor configuration for the step detection was the combination of EeonTex™ LG-SLPA as a transducing element and the Elitex yarns for the electrodes. In this configuration, the resistance magnitude varies in an order of hundreds of kohms between the stance and the swing phases.