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Liquid Metal-Based Inertial Sensors for Motion Monitoring and Human Machine Interfaces

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B2 B3 A0215

In this dissertation, the development of novel practical resistive and capacitive-type inertial sensors using liquid metal as a functional proof mass material is presented. Utilizing the unique electromechanical properties of liquid metal, the novel inertial sensor design confines a graphene-coated liquid metal droplet inside tubular and 3D architectures, enabling motion sensing in single and multiple directions. Combining the graphene-coated liquid metal droplet with printed sensing elements offers a robust fatigue-free alternative material for rigid, proof mass-based accelerometers. Resistive and capacitive sensing mechanisms were both developed, characterized, and evaluated. Emerging rapid fabrication technologies such as direct laser writing and 3D printing were mainly adopted, offering a scalable fabrication strategy independent of advanced microfabrication facilities. The developed inertial sensor was integrated with a programmable system on a chip (PSoC) to function as a stand-alone system and demonstrate its application for real-time- monitoring of human health/ physical activity and for soft human-machine interfaces. The developed inertial sensor architecture and materials in this work offer a new paradigm for manufacturing these widely used sensors that have the potential to complement the performance of their silicon counterparts and extend their applications.

Wedyan Babatain

Wedyan Babatain is a doctoral candidate of MMH Labs in the Electrical Engineering program at KAUST. She has an interdisciplinary background obtaining her bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Delaware, USA, in 2017, and her master's degree in Electrical Engineering from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), KSA, in 2019. Her research interests include sensors, actuators, microfluidics, and flexible and soft electronics for healthcare and environmental applications. She was a finalist at the 2022 SXSW Innovation Awards and has presented her