A Novel Design of Thin Flexible Force Myography Sensor Using Weaved Optical Fiber: A Proof-of-Concept Study

Abstract

Motion recognition and tracking is one of the crucial features for intuitive and direct human-robot interaction (HRI), prompting researchers to explore various sensor types. In this paper, we proposed a sleeve-type force myography (FMG) system using new type of thin and flexible FMG sensor utilizing weaved optical fiber. This study introduces a novel design for a thin and flexible FMG sensor using weaved plastic optical fibers for motion recognition and tracking. The proposed sensor demonstrates a compact form factor (15 mm width, 25 mm height, and 2 mm thickness) with high flexibility, making it suitable for embedding in clothing without causing discomfort. Evaluations confirm its high sensitivity, wide force sensing range (>10 N). Accuracy of the estimating force using the proposed sensor was approximately 99.17% or higher and the response time of 85 ms ensures its effectiveness in real-time applications, emphasizing its potential for applications like prosthetics and virtual reality (VR) interactions. To conduct the proof of concept for the FMG sensor, elbow flexion angle estimation was performed focusing solely on the bicep muscle, and high-precision flexion angle tracking was achieved with 94.27% of correlation coefficient. Overall, the proposed FMG sensor presents a promising solution for intuitive and accurate motion recognition in various HRI applications.