Wearable Sensors for Monitoring Human Motion: A Review on Mechanisms, Materials, and Challenges. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Homayounfar, S. Zohreh; Andrew, Trisha L.
• Is Part Of: SLAS technology. Volume 25:Number 1(2020)
• Page Start: 9
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: data analysis -- informatics and software -- robotics and instrumentation -- engineering -- point of care testing (POCT) -- clinical automation -- fabrication -- microtechnology; Medical laboratory technology -- Periodicals; Laboratories -- Equipment and supplies -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; 616.075
• DOI: 10.1177/2472630319891128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2472-6303

Abstract

The emergence of flexible wearable electronics as a new platform for accurate, unobtrusive, user-friendly, and longitudinal sensing has opened new horizons for personalized assistive tools for monitoring human locomotion and physiological signals. Herein, we survey recent advances in methodologies and materials involved in unobtrusively sensing a medium to large range of applied pressures and motions, such as those encountered in large-scale body and limb movements or posture detection. We discuss three commonly used methodologies in human gait studies: inertial, optical, and angular sensors. Next, we survey the various kinds of electromechanical devices (piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacitive, triboelectric, and transistive) that are incorporated into these sensor systems; define the key metrics used to quantitate, compare, and optimize the efficiency of these technologies; and highlight state-of-the-art examples. In the end, we provide the readers with guidelines and perspectives to address the current challenges of the field.