NEW PRODUCT – Pressure-Sensitive Conductive Sheet (Velostat/Linqstat) – This conductive material (also known as “Velostat” or “Linqstat”) is a nice addition for …
Website Article: NEW PRODUCT – Pressure-Sensitive Conductive Sheet (Velostat/Linqstat) (Adafruit®, 2013).
So as I started to do my research about impact sensor I found that there are quite a lot of ways how to work within this area. Two options of how to work with measuring impact were created by Adafruit: 1. Sensitive Resistor (FSR) and 2. Ribbon Sensor.
Image: Sensitive Resistor (FSR) (Adafruit®, N/A).
FSRs sensors allow someone to detect physical pressure, squeezing and weight. They are basically a resistor, which changes its resistive value (in ohms Ω) depending on how much it is pressed. These sensors are fairly low cost and simple to use. They are just receiving data how much impact was put on, they do not sense the position. (Adafruit®, 2015)
Image: Ribbon Sensor (Adafruit®, N/A).
These sensors are nice little ribbon controllers with an adhesive backing. They are also known as “soft potentiometer” and manufactured by Spectra Symbol.This is a donut-shaped sensor whose outer diameter is 55.96mm/2.2in and inner diameter is 35.63mm/1.4in. The middle pin resistance with respect to either of the outer pins changes depending on where on the strip one presses. When no pressure is applied, the middle pin floats. So basically these sensors will tell where the impact was (direct position) but unfortunately not how strong the impact was (Adafruit®, 2012). I can imagine that this technology is good to locate injuries etc.
Image: Adafruit®. (N/A). Square Force-Sensitive Resistor (FSR) - Interlink 406. & Round Force-Sensitive Resistor (FSR) - Interlink 402. [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/1200x900/1075-00.jpg. & https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/1200x900/166-00.jpg.
Image: Adafruit®. (N/A). Circular Soft Potentiometer (Ribbon Sensor). [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/1200x900/1069-00.jpg.
Adafruit®. (2012). NEW PRODUCT! Circular Soft Potentiometer (Ribbon Sensor). Retrieved from https://blog.adafruit.com/page/8/?s=pressure%20sensor.
Adafruit®. (2013). NEW PRODUCT – Pressure-Sensitive Conductive Sheet (Velostat/Linqstat). Retrieved from https://blog.adafruit.com/2013/05/09/new-product-pressure-sensitive-conductive-sheet-velostatlinqstat/.
Adafruit®. (2015). How to use a Force Sensitive Resistor . Retrieved from https://blog.adafruit.com/2015/09/29/how-to-use-a-force-sensitive-resistor-makereducation/.