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Centrifugal model tests can accelerate the characterization of landslides and demonstrate the form of slope failure, which is an important measure to research its instability mechanisms. Simply observing the slope landslide before and after a centrifugal model test cannot reveal the processes involved in real-time deformation. Electromagnetic sensors have severed as an existing method for real-time measurement, however, this approach has significant challenges, including poor signal quality, interference, and complex implementation and wiring schemes. This paper aims to overcome the shortcomings of the existing measurement methods.

This work uses the advantages of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors with their small form-factor and potential for series multiplexing in a single fiber to demonstrate a monitoring strategy for model centrifugal tests. A slope surface deformation displacement sensor, FBG anchor sensor and FBG anti-slide piling sensor have been designed. These sensors are installed in the slope models, while centrifugal acceleration tests under 100 g are carried out.

FBG sensors obtain three types of deformation information, demonstrating the feasibility and validity of this measurement strategy.

The experimental results provide important details about instability mechanisms of a slope, which has great significance in research on slope model monitoring techniques and slope stability.

Electrical impedance measurement and imaging are techniques that are widely used in a range of applications. Electro‐conductive knitted structure is a major new development in wearable computing. The purpose of this paper is to carry out a preliminary investigation of applying electrical impedance analysis to predict the behavior of electro‐conductive knitted structure. This can potentially pave the way for a low‐cost solution for pressure mapping imaging.

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) has been used as a mapping technique for deformation imaging in conductive knitted fabric. EIT is an imaging system used to generate a map of electrical conductivity. Pressure and deformation mapping scanner is being developed based on electrical conductivity imaging of the conductive area generated in a fabric. The results are presented using these new sensors with various deformations.

Experimental results show the feasibility of qualitative deformation imaging. In particular, it is promising that multiple deformations can be mapped using the proposed technique. The paper also demonstrates preliminary results regarding quantitative pressure and deformation mapping using EIT technique.

The results presented in the paper are laboratory‐based experiments for proof of principle and will be evaluated in specific application areas in future.

The paper shows, for the first time, detection of multiple pressure points as well as quantifying the pressure map using the new imaging sensor. The sensor proposed here can be used for robotic touch sensing application, as well as some biomechanical observations.

Strain sensors have been widely used to measure the strain of the structure. However, the ordinary sensing elements are not suitable for measuring large deformation on an irregular surface, which limits their applications. Recently, flexible sensors have attracted extensive interest because they can overcome the shortage of the ordinary sensing elements. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

In this paper, the whole measurement process of strain sensing behavior and the dimension design of fle3xible strain sensing system use the macroscopic measurement method of material tensile test to accurately measure the resistance change with strain. Afterwards, combining electrical components, the flexible strain sensors are produced for two biomedical applications: the wearable data-collecting gloves and rehabilitation training system.

The results show that the developed conductive fabric can exhibit high sensitivity, large workable strain range (>50 percent) under simple and repeated tension and good stability. Both applications demonstrate that the polypyrrole-coated fabric sensor can successfully measure the large and repeat strain, capture the motion of body and display corresponding information almost in real time.

The limitation lies in the lack of a holistic strain sensing mechanism study, and the lack of a corresponding theoretical model to explain the experimental results.

The purpose of this paper is to present a most accurate analytical model suit for the prediction of the elastic displacements in a ceramic strip for sensing longitudinal deformations. Accordingly, the objective of the analysis given is to develop a physically meaningful and simple‐as‐possible stress‐strain model for an elongated strip attached to a thick‐and‐stiff substrate.

Today's advanced strain gage designs intended for measuring deformations and related physical characteristics use sensitive elements manufactured as ceramic strips. The output signal depends to a great extent on the ability to measure and to adequately interpret the induced elastic displacements in the strip, as the global electric resistor is coupled strongly to the strain field in the sensitive layer. The dependence of the strain on the thickness of a strip is calculated using an analytical 2D stress‐strain model using a shear tension applied at its interface with the substrate and zero‐stress at the opposite face as boundary conditions. All necessary considerations and calculations to develop the model are discussed.

A significant result is the gradual reduction in the deformation depending on the layer thickness. Applying the model combines easy numerical effort with an expressive approximation.

The developed model can be used in the analysis and physical design of the structural elements of the type in question, not necessarily in the field of strain gage and sensor engineering.

To examine the range of fibre‐optic sensors available for monitoring the integrity of buildings and civil engineering structures.

Explains the need for structural monitoring and reviews the types of fibre‐optic sensors. Concentrating on elongation and temperature sensing, shows how each technology works, which companies supply the products, and gives an overview of their technical specifications.

Fibre optics are able to provide integrated, single‐point and distributed sensor systems. The fibre is a communication channel as well as a sensor, and in some systems, carries highly multiplexed data over considerable distances to a central monitoring station. The take‐up of this technology in structural sensing is helped by appropriate packaging that assists attachment to buildings. Durability and measurement stability give a continuity of measurement that was not previously possible.

An introduction to the range of sensors applicable to structural monitoring, of general interest to scientists, but particularly to civil and constructional engineers.

This paper aims to propose a type of T-shaped two-axis force sensor for measuring the forces in x- and z-axes. The developed sensor has a simple structure and can be effectively assembled into compact devices.

A T-shaped plate, with both ends fixed on a base, is used as the substrate of the sensor. Eight strain gauges are placed in the root of the plate or near the sensor head, which can construct two full Wheatstone bridges on the upper and lower surfaces of the plate. When the x- or z-axes forces are applied to the sensor head, different deformation can be generated to the strain gauges. Therefore, the two Wheatstone bridges can be constructed with a different configuration for measuring the forces in x- or z-axes, respectively.

A prototype was designed and constructed and experiments were carried out to test the basic performance of the sensor. It has been verified that the developed sensor could measure the x- and z-axes forces independently with a high resolution of 2.5 and 5 mN, respectively.

Only one thin plate was used in the design, the forces in x- and z-axes could be measured independently and simultaneously, which made the sensor with a simple structure and compact size. Experiments were also verified that there was no crosstalk error occurred in one axis when the force was applied to the other axis.

Examines the fifteenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Currently, several studies have been published using sensorized insoles for estimating ground reaction force using plantar pressure. However, information on design parameters, manufacturing techniques and guidelines for developing insoles is scarce, often leaving gaps that do not allow reproducing the insole. This study aims to empirically investigate the main parameters of constructing a sensorized insole for application in human gait.

Two devices were built to evaluate the force sensors. The first focuses on the construction of the sensors with different settings: the density of the sensor’s conductive trails (thickness and distance of the trails) and the inertia of the sensors (use of spacers to prevent unwanted readings). The second device focuses on the data capture and processing system: resolution of the analog–digital converter, acquisition rate and sensor activation level.

The resolution increase of the analog–digital converter and acquisition rate do not contribute to noise increase. Reducing the sensors’ coverage area can increase sensorized insole capacity. The inertia of the sensors can be adjusted using spacers without changing the electrical circuit and acquisition system.

Most sensorized insoles use commercial sensors. For this reason, it is not possible a full customization. This paper maps the main variables to manufacture custom sensors and data acquisition systems. This work also presents a case study where it is possible to see the influence of the parameters in the correlation between the sensorized insole and an instrumented treadmill with a force platform.

The essence of the conceptual design is getting the innovative projects or ideas to ensure the products with best performance. It has been proved that the theory of inventive problem solution (TRIZ) is a systematic methodology for innovation. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the design of an adaptive robotic gripper as an engineering example to show the significance and approaches of applying TRIZ in getting the creative conceptual design ideas.

Gripping and holding of objects are key tasks for robotic manipulators. The development of universal grippers able to pick up unfamiliar objects of widely varying shapes and surfaces is a very challenging task. The requirement for new adaptive grippers is the ability to detect and recognize objects in their environments.

The main aim of this work is to show a systematic methodology for innovation as an effective procedure to enhance the capability of developing innovative products and to overcome the main design problems. The TRIZ method will be utilized in order to eliminate the technical contradictions which appear in the passively adaptive compliant robotic gripper.

The design of an adaptive robotic gripper as an engineering example is illustrated in this paper to show the significance and approaches of applying TRIZ in getting the creative conceptual design ideas.

Surgical robotics can be divided into two groups: specialized and versatile systems. Versatile systems can be used in different surgical applications, control architectures and operating room set‐ups, but often still based on the adaptation of industrial robots. Space consumption, safety and adequacy of industrial robots in the unstructured and crowded environment of an operating room and in close human robot interaction are at least questionable. The purpose of this paper is to describe the DLR MIRO, a new versatile lightweight robot for surgical applications.

The design approach of the DLR MIRO robot focuses on compact, slim and lightweight design to assist the surgeon directly at the operating table without interference. Significantly reduced accelerated masses (total weight 10 kg) enhance the safety of the system during close interaction with patient and user. Additionally, MIRO integrates torque‐sensing capabilities to enable close interaction with human beings in unstructured environments.

A payload of 30 N, optimized kinematics and workspace for surgery enable a broad range of possible applications. Offering position, torque and impedance control on Cartesian and joint level, the robot can be integrated easily into telepresence (e.g. endoscopic surgery), autonomous or soft robotics applications, with one or multiple arms.

This paper considers lightweight and compact design as important design issues in robotic assistance systems for surgery.