Soft flexion sensors integrating strechable metal conductors on a silicone substrate for smart glove applications

We design and implement a sensory skin that monitors in real time finger flexure (three sensors per finger) of a user's hand. Compared to current technologies, the electronic skin is made entirely of stretchable materials integrating silicone rubber, low resistivity liquid metal interconnects and high strain sensitivity, microstructured thin metal films. Microfabrication of the sensors combines traditional thin film process and additive manufacturing techniques. We incorporate the skin on a textile glove and demonstrate its function as an interface for finger motion and posture detection using a robotic test platform. © 2015 IEEE.