The present invention discloses a method for detecting the mechanical response of a mechanical component by an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material, comprising the following steps of: selecting an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material; preparing an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material solution; forming a film on a metal surface; calibrating fluorescence intensity and obtaining the fluorescence intensity and distribution in a crack tip area; observing the fluorescence signal generated at cracks to monitor the occurrence of fatigue cracks, and predict a propagation pathway of fatigue cracks by using the fluorescence intensity distribution in the crack tip area.

The present invention discloses a method for detecting the mechanical response of a mechanical component by an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material, comprising the following steps of: selecting an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material; preparing an organic mechanoresponsive fluorescent material solution; forming a film on a metal surface; calibrating fluorescence intensity and obtaining the fluorescence intensity and distribution in a crack tip area; observing the fluorescence signal generated at cracks to monitor the occurrence of fatigue cracks, and predict a propagation pathway of fatigue cracks by using the fluorescence intensity distribution in the crack tip area.

Provided is a displacement measurement system including: a sensor that is contactable with a measurement target object and includes a first spacer that has at least a one-dimensional spread, and two or more types of light emitting particles that are distributed over the spread of the first spacer and emit light at different wavelengths by an excitation energy; an excitation energy source that causes the two or more types of light emitting particles included in the sensor to emit light; and a light receiver that receives light emitted from the sensor.

This invention relates to a device for sensing interaction with its surrounding environment, the device including: a plurality of sensing points (11); a plurality of detectors (12), each associated with one of said sensing points (11) and located remotely therefrom; a plurality of channels (14) which connect said sensing points (11) to said detectors (12) and provide a communication pathway therebetween; and communication media filling the channels, wherein each detector (12) is in communication with the associated sensing point or points (11) through one of said channels (14) and the medium in said channel (14) is arranged to transmit, transfer or transduce an interaction of the sensing point (11) with its surrounding environment to the detector (12) through the channel (14). The invention also relates to prosthetics which incorporate such devices. The devices according to the present aspect integrate sensing points and sensors within the structure of the device rather than adding an extra sensing layer to the structure and can overcome the traditional problems associated with the wiring when providing sensors on a robot arm or prosthetic.

Provided are a sensor, a display panel and a display device. The sensor includes: a flexible film; a first carrier substrate disposed opposite to and spaced apart from the flexible film; a protrusion structure disposed on a side, facing toward the flexible film, of the first carrier substrate; multiple sensing units located on a side, facing toward the first carrier substrate, of the flexible film; where a perpendicular projection of the protrusion structure on a plane where the flexible film is located does not overlap perpendicular projections of the multiple sensing units on the plane where the flexible film is located; and a shielding structure, which is disposed at least partially around the protrusion structure.

At least one fiber-optic sensor unit measures a mechanical variable which affects a rail having a certain length and a neutral axis that extends along said length of the rail. The at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is disposed at an angle of 30 to 60, in particular 45, relative to the neutral axis or at an angle of 30 to 60, in particular 45, relative to the neutral axis. The at least one fiber-optic sensor unit is irradiated with primary light in order to generate a signaling light in a reflection mode or transmission mode. The intensity of the signaling light is sensed. The signaling light is evaluated.

In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a sensing system includes a sensor mat configured to conform to a component having a central axis, a first sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a first location on the component, and a second sensor cluster disposed on or in the sensor mat configured to sense one or more conditions at a second location circumferentially spaced to the first location. In embodiments, the second location can be diametrically opposed to the first location.

A method and system for monitoring fluid flow in an open channel system, using an optical fibre that extends along at least a portion of the open channel system within the channel below the surface of the fluid. The method comprising sending light pulses into the sensor optical fibre, receiving backscattered light from the sensor optical fibre, and analysing properties of the backscattered light to obtain data representing strain along the sensor fibre. The strain data can be processed to derive information about the fluid flow, such as fluid depth, flow velocity and flow volume. A containment system for the optical fibre sensor may be included to protect the fibre and convert the pressure of a fluid in the open channel to a strain in the fibre. The temperature of the fluid may also be measured and temperature compensation of the measured strain carried out. The system is particularly applicable to sewers, drains, culverts or levees, with the optical fibre sensor installed axially at the bottom of the channel.

An impact sensing laminate 2 has a first surface 211 on which an impact force acts; a second surface 222 brought in contact with a protection object OBJ; an impact absorption layer 21 and a first pressure-sensitive layer 22. When a direction heading for the second surface from the first surface is defined as a first direction, the first pressure-sensitive layer is in the first direction from the impact absorption layer. The first pressure-sensitive layer is a layer of sensing a first impact force as the impact force to have been attenuated by the impact absorption layer.

A system for assaying forces applied by cells includes an optically transparent substrate comprising a soft material having a Young's modulus within the range of about 3 kPa to about 100 kPa. An array of molecular patterns is disposed on a surface of the optically transparent substrate, the molecular patterns include fluorophore-conjugated patterns adherent to cells. The system includes at least one light source configured to excite the fluorophore-conjugated patterns and an imaging device configured to capture fluorescent light emitted from the fluorophore-conjugated patterns. Dimensional changes in the size of the patterns are used to determine contractile forces imparted by cells located on the patterns.