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Micromachines
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Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their...
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Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their Future Prospects

A special issue of Micromachines (ISSN 2072-666X). This special issue belongs to the section "B：Biology and Biomedicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 7305

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ashok Chhetry

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
Interests: flexible electronics; physiological sensors; energy harvesters; EDL-capacitors; electro-spun nanofibers; end-of-life sensors
Dr. Vincenzo Mariano Mastronardi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies, 73010 Lecce, Italy
2. Department of Innovation Engineering, Università del Salento, 73010 Lecce, Italy
Interests: micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) design and fabrication; flexible piezoelectric transducers for sensing and energy harvesting; piezoelectric micro-machined ultrasonic transducers (PMUT); wearable piezoelectric sensors for vital sign monitoring
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, wearable and flexible sensors have attracted tremendous research interest due to their promising applications in health-care monitoring, human–machine interface, electronic skin (e-skin), and soft robotics. Such sensors are prominent in the non-invasive measurement of various physiological signals and biomarkers in biological fluids. However, the questions remain: what is the current state-of-the-art, and what is the prospect of wearable sensors? In this Special Issue, we focus on the recent advancements, current challenges, and new opportunities of wearable and flexible physical and electrochemical sensors. We invite emerging investigators, experts, and researchers working on physical sensors (e.g., pressure, strain, temperature, humidity, ECG, etc.) and electrochemical biosensors to contribute their insightful ideas through commentaries, perspectives, future outlooks, and reviews. The developments focused on novel sensing materials, transduction principles, sensor design strategies, and their unique applications are highly encouraged to submit in the formats of either full-length articles or communications. Looking forward to the prospects and attention to the key challenges, we expect the wearable and flexible sensor devices will continue to spark a greater impact in disease diagnosis, e-skin, prosthetic body organs, and body sensor networks.

Dr. Ashok Chhetry
Dr. Vincenzo Mariano Mastronardi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Micromachines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical sensors
  • electrochemical biosensors
  • wearable electronics
  • flexible
  • stretchable
  • nanomaterials
  • composite materials
  • 2D-materials
  • elastomeric substrates
  • textile-based sensors
  • sensitivity
  • limit of detection
  • reliability
  • biocompatibility

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 7115 KiB  
Article
An Unpowered Knee Exoskeleton for Walking Assistance and Energy Capture
by Xinyao Tang, Xupeng Wang, Yanmin Xue and Pingping Wei
Micromachines 2023, 14(10), 1812; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14101812 - 22 Sep 2023
Viewed by 967
Abstract
In order to reduce the energy consumption of human daily movement without providing additional power, we considered the biomechanical behavior of the knee during external impedance interactions. Based on the theory of human sports biomechanics, combined with the requirements of human–machine coupling motion [...] Read more.
In order to reduce the energy consumption of human daily movement without providing additional power, we considered the biomechanical behavior of the knee during external impedance interactions. Based on the theory of human sports biomechanics, combined with the requirements of human–machine coupling motion consistency and coordination, an unpowered exoskeleton-assisted device for the knee joint is proposed in this paper. The effectiveness of this assisted device was verified using gait experiments and distributed plantar pressure tests with three modes: “not wearing exoskeleton” (No exo.), “wearing exoskeleton with assistance “ (Exo. On), and “wearing exoskeleton without assistance” (Exo. Off). The experimental results indicate that (1) This device can effectively enhance the function of the knee, increasing the range of knee movement by 3.72% (p < 0.001). (2) In the early stages of the lower limb swing, this device reduces the activity of muscles in relation to the knee flexion, such as the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, and soleus muscles. (3) For the first time, it was found that the movement length of the plantar pressure center was reduced by 6.57% (p = 0.027). This basic principle can be applied to assist the in-depth development of wearable devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their Future Prospects)
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19 pages, 15987 KiB  
Article
Application of Piezoelectric PLLA Braided Cord as Wearable Sensor to Realize Monitoring System for Indoor Dogs with Less Physical or Mental Stress
by Yoshiro Tajitsu, Jun Takarada, Tokiya Hikichi, Ryoji Sugii, Kohei Takatani, Hiroki Yanagimoto, Riku Nakanishi, Seita Shiomi, Daiki Kitamoto, Takuo Nakiri, Osamu Takeuchi, Miki Deguchi, Takanori Muto, Kazuaki Kuroki, Wataru Amano, Ayaka Misumi, Mitsuru Takahashi, Kazuki Sugiyama, Akira Tanabe, Shiro Kamohara, Rei Nisho and Koji Takeshitaadd Show full author list remove Hide full author list
Micromachines 2023, 14(1), 143; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14010143 - 5 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1847
Abstract
We attempted to realize a prototype system that monitors the living condition of indoor dogs without physical or mental burden by using a piezoelectric poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) braided cord as a wearable sensor. First, to achieve flexibility and durability of the [...] Read more.
We attempted to realize a prototype system that monitors the living condition of indoor dogs without physical or mental burden by using a piezoelectric poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) braided cord as a wearable sensor. First, to achieve flexibility and durability of the piezoelectric PLLA braided cord used as a sensor for indoor dogs, the process of manufacturing the piezoelectric PLLA fiber for the piezoelectric braided cord was studied in detail and improved to achieve the required performance. Piezoelectric PLLA braided cords were fabricated from the developed PLLA fibers, and the finite element method was used to realize an e-textile that can effectively function as a monitoring sensor. As a result, we realized an e-textile that feels similar to a high-grade textile and senses the complex movements of indoor dogs without the use of a complex computer system. Finally, a prototype system was constructed and applied to an actual indoor dog to demonstrate the usefulness of the e-textile as a sensor for indoor dog monitoring. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their Future Prospects)
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11 pages, 8765 KiB  
Article
Attachable Inertial Device with Machine Learning toward Head Posture Monitoring in Attention Assessment
by Ying Peng, Chao He and Hongcheng Xu
Micromachines 2022, 13(12), 2212; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi13122212 - 14 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1481
Abstract
The monitoring of head posture is crucial for interactive learning, in order to build feedback with learners’ attention, especially in the explosion of digital teaching that occurred during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, conventional monitoring based on computer vision remains a great challenge [...] Read more.
The monitoring of head posture is crucial for interactive learning, in order to build feedback with learners’ attention, especially in the explosion of digital teaching that occurred during the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, conventional monitoring based on computer vision remains a great challenge in the multi-freedom estimation of head posture, owing to low-angle annotation and limited training accuracy. Here, we report a fully integrated attachable inertial device (AID) that comfortably monitors in situ head posture at the neck, and provides a machine learning-based assessment of attention. The device consists of a stretchable inertial sensing unit and a fully integrated circuit-based system, as well as mechanically compliant encapsulation. Due to the mechanical flexibility, the device can be seamlessly attach to a human neck’s epidermis without frequent user interactions, and wirelessly supports six-axial inertial measurements, thereby obtaining multidimensional tracking of individual posture. These head postures (40 types) are then divided into 10 rotation actions which correspond to diverse situations that usually occur in daily activities of teaching. Benefiting from a 2D convolutional neural network (CNN)-based machine learning model, their classification and prediction of head postures can be used to analyze and infer attention behavior. The results show that the proposed 2D CNN-based machine learning method can effectively distinguish the head motion posture, with a high accuracy of 98.00%, and three actual postures were successfully verified and evaluated in a predefined attention model. The inertial monitoring and attention evaluation based on attachable devices and machine learning will have potential in terms of learning feedback and planning for learners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their Future Prospects)
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Review

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33 pages, 3946 KiB  
Review
Manipulator Control System Based on Flexible Sensor Technology
by Jian Chen, Chunfang Wang, Jingxin Chen and Binfeng Yin
Micromachines 2023, 14(9), 1697; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi14091697 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1652
Abstract
The research on the remote control of manipulators based on flexible sensor technology is gradually extensive. In order to achieve stable, accurate, and efficient control of the manipulator, it is necessary to reasonably design the structure of the sensor with excellent tensile strength [...] Read more.
The research on the remote control of manipulators based on flexible sensor technology is gradually extensive. In order to achieve stable, accurate, and efficient control of the manipulator, it is necessary to reasonably design the structure of the sensor with excellent tensile strength and flexibility. The acquisition of manual information by high-performance sensors is the basis of manipulator control. This paper starts with the manufacturing of materials of the flexible sensor for the manipulator, introduces the substrate, sensor, and flexible electrode materials, respectively, and summarizes the performance of different flexible sensors. From the perspective of manufacturing, it introduces their basic principles and compares their advantages and disadvantages. Then, according to the different ways of wearing, the two control methods of data glove control and surface EMG control are respectively introduced, the principle, control process, and detection accuracy are summarized, and the problems of material microstructure, reducing the cost, optimizing the circuit design and so on are emphasized in this field. Finally, the commercial application in this field is explained and the future research direction is proposed from two aspects: how to ensure real-time control and better receive the feedback signal from the manipulator. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances of Wearable and Flexible Sensor Devices and Their Future Prospects)
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