Airbag-like Comb Flexible Pressure Sensor and Its Wearable Applications

Flexible wearable devices demonstrate immense potential in healthcare and human-computer interaction, yet the development of high-performance flexible pressure sensors for these applications remains a pressing technical challenge. Inspired by the structure of commonly used airbag combs, an airbag-like comb flexible pressure sensor (ALCS) was designed and fabricated using laser direct writing (LDW) technology. By incorporating an airbag structure to enhance the variation in contact area between the sensing and electrode layers, coupled with pore design to further boost unit strain, the ALCS achieved an ultrawide detection range (1.27-2783.815 kPa), high sensitivity (up to 21.53 kPa-1), and exceptionally fast response/recovery times (3.4 ms/34 ms). To tackle the issue of lacking dynamic sign language recognition systems, we fabricated an intelligent glove (ALCIG) based on ALCS, which, when integrated with machine learning algorithms, achieved precise recognition of 8 types of dynamic sign language, offering an efficient solution for barrier-free communication for individuals with speech impairments. To further evaluate the recognition capabilities of ALCIG and enhance its applicability in diverse scenarios, we developed a virtual keyboard letter recognition test involving 26 categories. The results demonstrated that even with 26 highly complex targets, ALCIG successfully collected data and achieved accurate classification, showcasing its significant potential in gesture recognition and complex classification tasks.