IIT Guwahati develops water repellent material that can monitor real-time human movements

The sensors can monitor different human motions and expressions and are sensitive enough to differentiate between smiling and laughing and even detect swallowing motions. 

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati have developed a novel water repellent material that can be used for real-time monitoring of human movements. The material developed is flexible, non-stretchable and environmentally friendly that can detect low strains with high sensitivity. Wearable motion sensors are used for physiological monitoring of human movement. These sensors are used for gait analysis, understanding human and machine interactions and monitoring patients during rehabilitation processes. Such motion sensors are typically made of materials that convert the mechanical strain that arises from movement into electrical signals that can be detected. 

 To be used as a wearable motion sensor, the strain sensing material must be flexible, robust, and highly sensitive to both large and subtle movements. The team has developed such a material that is superior to existing strain sensors with respect to both sensitivity and durability.  

The research team was led by Dr Uttam Manna, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, Centre for Nanotechnology and School of Health Science and Technology, IIT Guwahati and Prof Roy Paily, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Centre for Nanotechnology and School of Health Science & Technology, IIT Guwahati.  

Dr Uttam Manna said, “The ink-patterned paper was connected to an electronic component and a Bluetooth module and attached to various parts of the human body for wireless monitoring of different human motions and expressions. It was attached to the finger to detect bending motion, knee to detect walking and squatting motions and to different parts of the face to detect facial expressions.” 

Dr Manna added, “The sensor was so sensitive that it could differentiate smiling from laughing and could detect swallowing motion. The attachment of the pattern interface to the wrist allowed monitoring of the wrist pulse. The extreme water repellence of the material makes it suitable to be used underwater as well.” 

Read more: 

• IIT Guwahati researchers find novel behaviour of electrons in conductor 
• IIT Guwahati, AICTE to jointly work on solving water, energy problems of North-East  
• IIT Guwahati establishes centre to develop indigenous techologies, generate employment opportunities