Real-time pressure mapping smart insole system based on a controllable vertical pore dielectric layer

Real-time monitoring of plantar pressure has significant applications in wearable biosensors, sports injury detection, and early diagnostics. Herein, an all-in-one insole composed of 24 capacitive pressure sensors (CPSs) with vertical pores in an elastic dielectric layer is fabricated by laser cutting. Optimized CPSs with a hexagonal configuration and a pore size of 600 mu m possess good linearity over a wide detection range of 0-200kPa with a sensitivity of 12x10(-3)kPa(-1). Then, a smart system including the all-in-one insole with the 24 CPS array, a data acquisition system with a wireless transmitter and a PC terminal with a wireless receiver is established for real-time monitoring to realize static and dynamic plantar pressure mapping. Based on this smart insole system, various standing and yoga postures can be distinguished, and variations in the center of gravity during walking can be recognized. This intelligent insole system provides great feasible supervision for health surveillance, injury prevention, and athlete training. Health: Another step forward for wearable sensorsA smart insole capable of monitoring a person's gait could see use in wearable medicine, injury detection, or help to restore a healthy posture. Smart technologies capable of measuring physiological signals can help to monitor and improve human health. Recently, devices capable of mapping plantar pressure and distribution are seeing increasing use as predictors of a variety of health-related issues, such as exhausted running or walking, risk of slipping, or for detecting senile dementia. Led by Rongrong Bao from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a team of researchers has developed an insole that uses an array of capacitive pressure sensors to monitor real-time data from static postures, such as standing or yoga poses, or dynamic activities like walking. The insole could see use as a wearable biosensor, in sports injury detection, or for diagnosing diseases.