There is disclosed a stretchable sensor system for measuring deformation of an elastomer, the stretchable sensor system comprising at least one magnet; at least one magnetic sensor, each having a sensor output; and a controller, wherein the at least one magnet is/are fixed to the elastomer at a respective first location or plurality of locations and the at least one magnetic sensor is/are fixed to the elastomer at a respective second location or plurality of locations, such that the or each magnetic sensor is located in magnetic proximity to a respective said magnet, and wherein the controller is operable: to receive sensor data from the sensor output of the or each magnetic sensor; to process the received sensor data in dependence on the first and second locations or plurality of locations to determine a positional relationship between the or each magnet and the respective magnetic sensor; and to compute a deformation of the elastomer in dependence on the determined positional relationship between the or each magnet and the respective magnetic sensor. The present invention has particular application to soft robotics and closed loop control thereof.

Device with isotropic planar compliance comprising a floating body (2) positioned between a first (3) and second frame (4), said floating body having an extended portion (21) protruding through the first frame, at least a row of caged balls (5) supporting the floating body, at least one elastic element (6) positioned over the extended portion of the floating body, compressed between and connecting the floating body and the first frame. Said caged balls allow the at least one elastic element to laterally deform, so that their axis bends, while the ends of said at least one elastic element lay on two parallel planes, which remain at constant distance while sliding one with respect to the other. The device comprises also at least one displacement sensor (10), for measuring the displacement of the floating body with respect to the first or second frame.

A force sensor has a sensing system including a target piece and a sensing element, configured to provide changes of a magnetic field, being generated by motion of the target piece. The sensing element senses these changes and provides a signal representative of the position of the target piece. An integrated circuit with processing means can process signals from the sensing element. A semiconductor package includes at least the integrated circuit. A flexible piece includes the target, and it is attached to the semiconductor package. The attachment area between the flexible piece and the semiconductor package does not extend beyond the top projection, or outline, of the semiconductor package. The flexible piece receives a force stimulus, so that upon exerting a force on the flexible piece, the displacement of the target piece with respect to the surface of the semiconductor package can be sensed by the sensing element.

Provided are a handle assembly for a cart having a power assist function, and a cart in which the power assist function enables a user to easily move the cart by detecting a direction, in which a force of the user is applied, to assist power in the relevant direction. According to the handle assembly and the cart, the user can easily move the cart by detecting the direction, in which the force of the user is applied, to provide auxiliary power (a power assist function) in the relevant direction, thereby improving convenience of the user.

Provided are a device, a system and a method for acquiring a force information based on a bionic structure, including: a force information acquisition layer and a magnetic field signal acquisition chip; wherein a permanent magnet is embedded in the force information acquisition layer; wherein the force information acquisition layer has an elastic structure configured to generate a deformation corresponding to a first force information of a force after being subjected to the force, so that the permanent magnet moves with the deformation to generate a magnetic field signal corresponding to the force information; wherein the magnetic field signal acquisition chip is arranged in parallel with the force information acquisition layer, and is configured to acquire the magnetic field signal and convert the magnetic field signal into an electrical signal.

To improve the output signal quality of a load measurement by means of active magnetization, the invention provides a load measurement method for measuring a mechanical load on a test object (14), comprising: a) generating and applying a magnetic field to the test object (14); b) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a first magnetic field detection device (20) to generate a first measurement signal (U1, UAB), c) detecting a magnetic field changed by the test object (14) as a result of a mechanical load on the test object (14) by means of a second magnetic field detection device (22) to generate a second measurement signal (U1, UAB), d) computationally determining a third measurement signal (UBT) from the first measurement signal (U1, UAB) and the second measurement signal (U2, UAT), and preferably comprising the steps of e) forming a difference from one (U2, UAT) of the first and the second measurement signals and the computationally determined third measurement signal (UBT) to produce an output signal, f) determining the mechanical load applied to the test object (14) based on the output signal. The invention also provides a corresponding load measurement device for carrying out the load measurement method.

A pedaling sensing device of an electric bicycle is configured to connect to a motor and includes a crank axle, a first gearwheel, a second gearwheel, an assisting unit and a sensing unit. The crank axle extends along an axial direction and has a plurality of first helical teeth connected to each other and arranged continuously. The first gearwheel is disposed around the crank axle and comprises a first inner annulus surface and a first outer annulus surface. The first inner annulus surface is formed with a plurality of second helical teeth matching the first helical teeth. The second helical teeth are connected to each other and arranged continuously. The second gearwheel is disposed around the first gearwheel and has a second inner annulus surface. The second inner annulus surface is formed with a second transmission structure matching the first transmission structure.

The present invention relates to a device for measuring grip strength including a basis; a cover coupled to the basis to form an enclosed pressure space separated from the outside; a cap disposed between the basis and the cover and configured to form a sensing space separated from the pressure space; magnets mounted on the cap or the basis to form a magnetic field; and a magnetic sensor for detecting change in the magnetic field. With this configuration, when measuring the grip strength of the user's hand, accuracy or sensitivity may be increased.

A transducer assembly includes a mounting base, a collar, a magnet, and a Hall effect sensor. The collar defines a bore and extends from a proximal end to a distal end. The proximal end is fixedly coupled with the mounting base. One of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor is disposed within the bore and fixedly coupled to the mounting base. The other of the magnet and the Hall effect sensor is fixedly coupled to the distal end of the collar. The Hall effect sensor is spaced longitudinally from the magnet and is configured to detect lateral deflection of the distal end of the collar. Methods are also provided.

The present disclosure discloses a magnetic flexible tactile sensor structure based on a folding magnetization method, which comprises a flexible body containing a permanent magnetic material; the flexible body has a negative Poisson's ratio structure, and its set area has undergone folding magnetization treatment. The present disclosure also discloses a sensor composed of the above-mentioned sensing structure. The sensor provided by the present disclosure can be applied in sealed and wireless scenarios. The present disclosure can detect the size and position of force. The flexible sensor has broad prospects in the application of the touch skin of robots. The function between the magnetic field-based sensing magnet and the Hall element is contactless. In some cases where it is difficult to establish isolation of the connection lines, it can also be used as an unfettered tactile sensor.