At the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia researchers have created a flexible sensor made out of household supplies capable of measuring pressure of touch, temperature, acidity, and humidity. The so-called Paper Skin sensor is composed of aluminum foil, sticky notes, sponges, and wipes. Each component works independently, measuring the various parameters at the same time.
The conductivity of sponges and wipes provides a reading on humidity, a pH pencil line on top of paper provides acidity levels, and aluminum foil is used to measure pressure of something touching the sensor, and along with silver ink it provides temperature changes.
A bit more according to KAUST:
The team leveraged the various properties of the materials they used, including their porosity, adsorption, elasticity and dimensions to develop the low-cost sensory platform. They also demonstrated that a single integrated platform could simultaneously detect multiple stimuli in real time.
Several challenges must be overcome before a fully autonomous, flexible and multifunctional sensory platform becomes commercially achievable, explained Hussain. Wireless interaction with the paper skin needs to be developed. Reliability tests also need to be conducted to assess how long the sensor can last and how good its performance is under severe bending conditions.
Study in Advanced Materials Technologies: Paper Skin Multisensory Platform for Simultaneous Environmental Monitoring…
Via: KAUST…