Analysis and synthesis of human movements: wearable kinesthetic interfaces

Abstract

Electrically conductive elastomer composites (CEs) show piezoresistive properties when a deformation is applied. In several applications, CEs can be integrated onto fabric or other flexible substrate and can be employed as strain sensors. Moreover, integrated CE sensors may be used in biomechanical analysis to realize wearable kinesthetic interfaces able to detect posture and movement of the human body. In the following a kinesthetic upper limb garment realized by CEs which allows to reconstruct shoulder, elbow and wrist movements and a kinesthetic glove able to detect posture and gesture of the hand are presented.