There is a growing demand for strain sensors that can be embedded into wearables several potential applications. Among others, respiratory and cardiac rates' monitoring from chest wall displacements have driven the development of based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) coupled with polymers. In this paper, we addressed fabrication flexible sensor an FBG encapsulated Dragon skin 20 silicone rubber. The intended to used developing wearable system monitoring. sensor's response strain, temperature...

Abstract Collaborative robots are expected to physically interact with humans in daily living and the workplace, including industrial healthcare settings. A key related enabling technology is tactile sensing, which currently requires addressing outstanding scientific challenge simultaneously detect contact location intensity by means of soft conformable artificial skins adapting over large areas complex curved geometries robot embodiments. In this work, development a large-area sensitive...

In precision sports, the control of breathing and heart rate is crucial to help body remain stable in shooting position. To improve stability, archers try adopt similar patterns have a low heartbeat during each shot. We proposed an easy-to-use unobtrusive smart textile (ST) which able detect chest wall excursions due beating. The sensing part based on two FBGs housed into soft polymer matrix optimize adherence system robustness. ST was assessed volunteers figure out its performance...

Musculoskeletal disorders are the most common form of occupational ill-health. Neck pain is one prevalent musculoskeletal experienced by computer workers. Wrong postural habits and non-compliance workstation to ergonomics guidelines leading causes neck pain. These factors may also alter respiratory functions. Health safety interventions can reduce and, more generally, symptoms consequent economic burden. In this work, a multi-parametric wearable system based on two fiber Bragg grating...

Gait asymmetry in lower-limb amputees can lead to several secondary conditions that decrease general health and quality of life. Including augmented sensory feedback rehabilitation programs effectively mitigate spatiotemporal gait irregularities. Such benefits be obtained with non-invasive haptic systems representing an advantageous choice for usability overground training every-day In this study, we tested a wearable tactile device delivering short-lasting (100ms) vibrations around the...

The continuous monitoring of an individual's breathing can be instrument for the assessment and enhancement human wellness. Specific respiratory features are unique markers deterioration a health condition, onset disease, fatigue stressful circumstances. early reliable prediction high-risk situations result in implementation appropriate intervention strategies that might lifesaving. Hence, smart wearables have recently been attracting interest many researchers companies. However, most...

Advancements in the study of human sense touch are fueling field haptics. This is paving way for augmenting sensory perception during object palpation tele-surgery and reproducing sensed information through tactile feedback. Here, we present a novel tele-palpation apparatus that enables user to detect nodules with various distinct stiffness buried an ad-hoc polymeric phantom. The contact force measured by platform was encoded using neuromorphic model reproduced on index fingertip remote...

We present a tactile telepresence system for real-time transmission of information about object stiffness to the human fingertips. Experimental tests were performed across two laboratories (Italy and Ireland). In Italian laboratory, mechatronic sensing platform indented different rubber samples. Information was converted into on-off events using neuronal spiking model sent vibrotactile glove in Irish laboratory. Participants discriminated variation stimuli according two-alternative forced...

In recent years, wearables are exploding in popularity as unobtrusive devices able to extend traditional healthcare delivery systems. Smart textiles one of the main innovative types used for non-invasive and continuous monitoring cardiac activity. A prominent solution is based on detection vibrations induced chest surface by heart beating (i.e., precordial motions). literature, different sensor positions have been investigated, but it appears be a lack accepted standard points heart-induced...

Nowadays, lower-limb prostheses are reaching real-world usability especially on ground-level walking. However, some key tasks such as stair walking still quite demanding. Providing haptic feedback about the foot placement steps might reduce cognitive load of task, compensating for increased dependency vision and lessen risk falling. Experiments intact subjects can be useful to define strategies prior clinical trials, but effective methods assess efficacy few usually rely emulation disability...

Advancements in the field of collaborative robotics have led to a closer cooperation between humans and machines. Sharing same environment, safety adaptive control becomes paramount importance human-robot interaction. Thus, tactile feedback technologies are crucial perceive contacts. This work presents design development polymeric artificial skin, mimicking human sense touch perceiving localizing pressure over large area, its integration on custom human-like robotic forearm. The sensing...

This study focuses on the monitoring of respiratory and heart activities archers. These are linked with performance in precision sports since they can compromise postural stability. In particular, soft sensors based a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) embedded into Dragon Skin 10 polymer brick (90 mm length, 24 width, 1 thick) have been proposed to instrument wearable system. The movements chest wall due cardiac transmitted through two bands housing an FBG. consequent change FBG output provides...

This paper presents a tactile telepresence system employed for the localization of stiff inclusions embedded in soft matrix. The delivers neuromorphic spike-based haptic feedback, encoding object stiffness, to human fingertip. For evaluation developed system, this study customized silicon phantom was fabricated inserting 12 made 4 different polymers (3 replicas each material). Such inclusions, all them having same shape, were encapsulated softer matrix randomized positions. Two main blocks...

Prolonged seated works are responsible of awkward poses (e.g., excessive neck forward flexion) and job stressful conditions. Musculoskeletal disorders in the cervical spine region common computer workers who often affected by pain. Neck pain has a high prevalence amongst general population (from 42% to 69%). Reduction productivity, absence from work utilization health care services worsen socioeconomic burden associated Early evaluation postural mistakes changes vital signs stress may be...

In recent years, ever more workers are employed in sedentary jobs spending many hours sitting at video terminals. Discomfort office furniture and incorrect screen positioning, as well bad postural attitudes lead to the occurrence of back musculoskeletal disorders. Low pain is one most widespread disease which causes a heavy socio- economic burden it leads absence from workplace use National Health Service. this scenario, being able continuously evaluate poor may be beneficial correct habits,...

An endoscopic tactile robotic capsule, embedding miniaturized MEMS force sensors, is presented. The capsule conceived to provide automatic palpation of non-polypoid colorectal tumours during colonoscopy, since it characterized by high degree dysplasia, higher invasiveness and lower detection rates with respect polyps. A first test was performed employing a silicone phantom that embedded inclusions variable hardness curvature. hardness-based classification implemented, demonstrating...

Interest in tactile sensing technologies is advancing due to the growing adoption of robots daily life activities. Human-machine interaction has thus be safe, and collaborative robotics becoming increasingly important. The present work features design, development preliminary validation a soft large area sensor for proprioceptive robotic manipulator. Such manipulator shaped resemble human hand within this paper we focused on index finger. finger architecture design which allows setting up...

A pneumatic haptic display for collaborative robotics applications is presented within this paper. The 3×3 tactor array consists of a polymeric parallelepiped with 9 cylindrical chambers (3mm diameter) providing feedback by means actuation. preliminary study, on four subjects, has been performed to identify the optimal pressure deliver tactile stimulation and assess system functionality. Four different spatial stimuli, based activation array, were provided at three levels (35, 70, 105 kPa)....

Safety at work is driving the development of new technological solutions in era Industry 4.0. Among others, systems able to monitor physiological parameters are gaining high relevance since such devices have potential improve workers' safety. In this perspective, respiratory rate can provide useful information it sensitive many environmental stressors. study, we focused on a test bench assess performance wearable system for monitoring. The presented achieves data collection and...

Recognition of occupational stressors is a goal primary importance to improve the psycho-physical health workers. Many studies agree in considering respiratory rate (RR) as key parameter be monitored since changes from normal physiological ranges can closely related states mental and physical stress. Despite wide availability solutions devoted RR detection, utilization light unobtrusive wearable systems exploiting several sensing technologies becoming more popular recent years. Among others,...

The advancements in the study of human sense touch are fueling field haptics. This is paving way for augmenting sensory perception during objects palpation tele-surgery, and reproducing information through tactile feedback. Here, we present a novel tele-palpation apparatus that enables user to detect nodules with various distinct stiffness buried an ad-hoc polymeric phantom. contact force measured by platform was encoded using neuromorphic model reproduced on index fingertip remote haptic...

Recent years have witnessed relevant advancements in the quality of life persons with lower limb amputations thanks to technological developments prosthetics. However, prostheses that provide information about foot-ground interaction, and particular terrain irregularities, are still missing on market. The lack tactile feedback from foot sole might lead subjects step uneven terrains, causing an increase risk falling. To address this issue, a biomimetic vibrotactile system conveys gait...

Collaborative robots are expected to physically interact with humans in daily living and workplace, including industrial healthcare settings. A related key enabling technology is tactile sensing, which currently requires addressing the outstanding scientific challenge simultaneously detect contact location intensity by means of soft conformable artificial skins adapting over large areas complex curved geometries robot embodiments. In this work, development a large-area sensitive skin...