Modeling and comparing the linear performance of non-uniform geometry bend sensors

Resistive bend sensors have been increasingly used in different areas for their interesting property to change their resistance when bent. They can be employed in those systems where a joint rotation has to be measured, such as in biomedical systems to measure human joint static and dynamic postures. In spite of their interesting properties the commercial bend sensors have a resistance vs. bent angle characteristic which is not actually ideal as a linear function, to measure bend angles, would be. In this work, we have developed a way to calculate the sensor resistance for different bending angles with a generalized strip contour, in order to predict how shaping it with different non-uniform geometries changes the resistance dependence on bending angles, and investigate what kind of strip geometry can lead to a more linear behavior.