MSU Technologies

2D SHAPE SENSING AND RECONSTRUCTION SYSTEM

VAlue proposition

Accurate shape sensing is crucial in robotics, biomedical engineering, and structural health monitoring for tasks like robotic guidance and infrastructure assessment. However, challenges such as dealing with complex geometries during sensing and data acquisition while maintaining high accuracy remain. This technology is a flexible differential inductive sensor array for 2D shape sensing and reconstruction.

Description of Technology

The system employs two FPCB-based inductive sensor strips, separated by a fixed distance, to measure curvature through relative inductance shifts. The differential design suppresses background noise and improves signal to noise ratio. Initial results showed that smaller spacing extends the dynamic range of measurable curvature, while larger spacing enhances resolutions for larger curvature measurement. The prototype system incorporated a 3D-printed flexible framework, a miniaturized circuit system, and shape reconstruction algorithms. The validation results using 3D-printed arc strips demonstrated a maximum error up to 3.26% for a curvature radius of 40 mm and an average error of 1.72% across the range of 40–400 mm. The system's capability was further demonstrated on a dented/defective pipe using 3D geometry reconstruction. These results highlight the system's high accuracy, superior resolution, and great adaptability for various potential applications, offering advances for optimizing shape sensing.

Benefits