Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - 24

Sensors
on precise movements with an error margin below one degree and remove the
need for external cameras, as they can
track positioning and movement without
any visual input.
The technological breakthrough is the
development of a production process
that allows researchers to create highly
customizable ultra-sensitive sensors over a
wide working window with high signal-tonoise ratios. A sensor's working window
determines how much it can stretch while
still maintaining its sensing qualities and
having a high signal-to-noise ratio means
greater accuracy, as the sensor can differentiate between subtle vibrations and
minute movements of the robotic arm.

This production process allows the
team to customize their sensors to any
working window between 0 and 900 percent while maintaining high sensitivity
and signal-to-noise ratio. Standard sensors can typically achieve a range of up
to 100 percent. By combining multiple
sensors with different working windows,
researchers can create a single ultra-sensitive sensor that would otherwise be
impossible to achieve.
The advanced flexible sensors give
soft wearable robots an important
capability in sensing a patient's motor
performance, particularly in terms of
their range of motion. This will ultimately enable the soft robot to better

understand a patient's ability and provide the necessary assistance to their
hand movements.
The team is also looking to improve
the sensor's capabilities in soft exoskeleton robots for rehabilitation and in surgical robots for transoral robotic surgery. Cancerous tissues, for instance,
feel different from normal, healthy tissues. By adding ultra-thin wireless sensing modules to long robotic tools, surgeons can reach and operate in areas
where their hands can't reach and
potentially " feel " the tissue stiffness
without the need for open surgery.
For more information, contact Carolyn
Fong at carolyn@nus.edu.sg; +65 6516 5399.

Split-Ring Torque Sensor
This optical-based device measures position, velocity, and torque.
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

I

nnovators at NASA Johnson Space Center, in collaboration with Oceaneering
and The Florida Institute for Human and
Machine Cognition, have developed the
Split-Ring Torque Sensor (SRTS), a device
that uses optical sensors to measure the
position, velocity, and torque of a rotating
system.
The SRTS was created for use in NASA's
X1 robotic exoskeleton, an in-space, wearable exercise machine designed to supply
resistance against leg movement for NASA
astronauts in future missions. The X1
exoskeleton implements the SRTS in its
belt-drive series elastic actuator (SEA) and
provides a lower profile and lower-weight
system than competing designs.
The SRTS enables measurement of
position, velocity, and torque of a rotating
system (e.g., actuator, motor, crankshaft,
rotor, etc.) using two optical sensors and a
single, custom-designed split-ring rather
than the standard dual-ringed systems
commonly used for similar applications.
The split-ring is comprised of two structural arcs positioned in a concentric, coplanar relationship, wherein each arc is
attached to a component capable of rotation (e.g., a lower leg and upper leg, where
the SRTS acts as a knee). The two arcs contain indications or codes on their outer
surfaces that are read by the optical sensors to determine the relative deflection of
the structural arcs as they rotate.
The SRTS configuration discussed
above is limited to 180-degree applications. The addition of a third structural arc

SRTS enables measurement of position, velocity, and torque of a rotating system using two optical
sensors and a single, custom-designed split-ring.

and a third optical reader, however, would
enable 360-degree functionality. Tests have
shown the SRTS has a high degree of tolerance to temperature differences and
provides higher-resolution measurements
than competing technologies.
The SRTS offers greater flexibility in
tailoring for specific applications and
requirements. In addition to its applications in robotics, the SRTS has potential
uses in medical fields including prosthet-

24

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Cov

ToC

ics, aerospace and defense applications,
automotive applications, testing and
measurement, and industrial markets.
NASA is actively seeking licensees to commercialize this technology. Please contact
NASA's Licensing Concierge at AgencyPatent-Licensing@mail.nasa.gov or call us
at 202-358-7432 to initiate licensing discussions. Follow this link for more information:
https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSCTOPS-81.
Tech Briefs, February 2021


https://technology.nasa.gov/patent/MSC-TOPS-81 http://www.techbriefs.com http://www.abpi.net/ntbpdfclicks/l.php?202102TBNAV

Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021

Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - Intro
Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - Cov IV
Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - Cov I
Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - Cov II
Tech Briefs Magazine - February 2021 - 1
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