PDMS-embedded wearable FBG sensors for gesture recognition and communication assistance

Kun Xiao; Zhuo Wang; Yudong Ye; Chuanxin Teng; Rui Min

doi:10.1364/BOE.517104

PDMS-embedded wearable FBG sensors for gesture recognition and communication assistance

Biomed Opt Express. 2024 Feb 27;15(3):1892-1909. doi: 10.1364/BOE.517104. eCollection 2024 Mar 1.

Authors

Kun Xiao¹, Zhuo Wang², Yudong Ye³, Chuanxin Teng⁴, Rui Min²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China.
² Center for Cognition and Neuroergonomics, State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai 519087, China.
³ Planetary Environmental and Astrobiological Research Laboratory, School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China.
⁴ Photonics Research Center, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, China.

Abstract

This study introduces fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors embedded in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) silicone elastomer specifically engineered for recognizing intricate gestures like wrist pitch, finger bending, and mouth movement. Sensors with different PDMS patch thicknesses underwent evaluation including thermal, tensile strain, and bending deformation characterization, demonstrating a stability of at least four months. Experiments revealed the FBG sensors' accurate wrist pitch recognition across participants after calibration, confirmed by statistical metrics and Bland-Altman plots. Utilizing finger and mouth movements, the developed system shows promise in assisting post-stroke patients and individuals with disabilities, enhancing their interaction capabilities with the external surroundings.