Real-time sitting posture correction system based on highly durable and washable electronic textile pressure sensors

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. A. Physical. 2018-01, Vol.269, p.394-400
• Main Authors: Kim, Minjeong, Kim, Hyoungjun, Park, Jinwoo, Jee, Kwang-Koo, Lim, Jung Ah, Park, Min-Chul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Capacitance type sensor; Elastomers; Fatigue strength; Legs; Nickel base alloys; Polyurethane; Polyurethane resins; Polyurethane-coated Ni-Ti alloy fibers; Posture; Pressure sensors; Real time; Sensors; Sitting posture correction; Thigh; Titanium base alloys; Washable textile pressure sensor
• ISSN: 0924-4247; 1873-3069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sna.2017.11.054

•A real-time sitting posture correction system based on highly durable and washable textile pressure sensors was developed.•Conducting Ni-Ti alloy fiber coated with polyurethane elastomer resulted in highly durable and washable textile pressure sensors.•By analyzing the pressure detected at the different positions under the hip, thigh and back, seven types of sitting postures were successfully classified.•The real-time display on a monitor of changes in sitting posture, which makes users recognize and correct their body balance was simulated. A real-time sitting posture correction system based on highly durable and washable textile pressure sensors was demonstrated. Textile pressure sensors consisted of conducting Ni-Ti alloy fiber with an excellent fatigue resistance and a pressure-sensitive polyurethane elastomer resulted in reliable capacitance change by an applied pressure in a range from 10 to 180 kPa with a sensitivity of 2.39 kPa−1. The sensing performance was 100% maintained even upon repeated sitting action over 1000 times and harsh washing in detergent-solution. By analyzing the pressure detected at the different positions under the hip, thigh, and back, seven types of sitting postures including upright sitting, sitting with one leg crossed, and sitting with both legs lifted were successfully classified. Finally, real-time display on a monitor of the changes in sitting posture was simulated in order to allow the users to recognize and correct their body balance.