3D Printed Strain Sensors
Prototype of a 3D printed glove with 3D printed sensors.Copyright 2020 Jeff Parks, Michigan State University RET
3D printed sensors are a novel design that can be customized in wearable technology. In this lesson, students are introduced to the concepts of electrical resistance and how it relates to sensors. They also learn about how 3D printing works when it comes to building sensors, including what are they, how do they work, and how can they be useful to us in measuring and taking data on a variety of concepts.
Electrical engineers utilize the concepts of electrical resistance to build sensors and electrical systems. Computer engineers and robotic engineers integrate sensors into the majority of their projects and sometimes have to custom build them. 3D printing allows engineers to make custom items quickly and makes prototyping very easy, and can be used to combine the efforts of several types of engineers in order to produce a particular product.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Explain the basics of electrical resistance.
- List the advantages of 3D printed strain sensors.
- Explain the societal uses of 3D printed strain sensors.