Optical fibers used as structural sensing elements in a tensegrity structure for force measurement and localization

This paper presents preliminary investigations of the force/torque sensing capabilities of a tensegrity-based structure. The design includes two rigid bodies which are connected by a tension spring and three interferometric fiber optic sensors in a pre-stressed state. In this way, the fibers do not only provide the sensing capability, but also act as pre-stressed load-bearing structural components. In this preliminary investigation, we show that the cumulative strain of the fibers detected is proportional to a load applied to the structure. We also demonstrate a simple approach to localize the point of load application based on fiber optic strain measurements. The structure’s design enables scalability and customizable mechanical properties, making it adaptable for a wide range of measurement applications.