Omnidirectional\nBending Sensor with Bianisotropic\nStructure for Wearable Electronics

Bending sensors are critical to the\nadvancement of wearable\nelectronics\nand can be applied in the dynamic monitoring of flexible object morphology.\nHowever, current bending sensors are constrained by sensing range\nand precision, especially in full-range detection. The maximum sensing\nrange of existing flexible bending sensors is 0–240°.\nThis study introduces a bianisotropic responsive structure into the\ndesign of an all-textile bending sensor, thereby realizing 0–360°\nfull-range omnidirectional bending sensing. First, the project elucidated\nthe sensing mechanism of the piezoresistive bianisotropic structured\nbending sensor and identified critical factors through a numerical\nsimulation method. Then, the bianisotropic structured bending sensors\nwere produced through the stitch method and analyzed on their electromechanical\nperformance. Further, the recognition model for both bending angle\nand direction parameters was developed via numerical calculation,\nachieving a high accuracy with an error rate of 2.82%. Last, according\nto the ergonomics of body joints, the sensors were customized and\nvalidated in body joint monitoring scenarios. This work significantly\nenhances the performance of flexible bending sensors in sensing range,\naccuracy, and comfort for the wearer. The versatility of this bending\nsensor positions it as a promising candidate to supplant traditional\nheavy equipment or rigid devices, particularly in wearable joint motion\nmonitoring and soft robotics.