Fabric Bend Sensor

Step 8 Software Visualization

To visualize the change in resistance in the bend sensor you just made you can also hook it up to your computer via a microcontroller (Arduino) and use a little bit of code (Processing) to visualize it.

For Arduino microcontroller code and Processing visualization code please look here >> http://www.kobakant.at/DIY/?cat=347

See the orange bar in the pictures. How it is on the right of the computer screen when the wrist is bent. And at the very left when the wrist is straight!!

Have fun and thanks for reading. Let me know what you think.

Comments

[katsideswide]

Hi! Thanks so much for your previous help, i've managed to get some velostat and "shieldit super" conductive fabric, but i've found that when i put a piece of velostat loosely between the two layers of shieldit, it bridges the gap instantly and reacts as though i'd connected input 1 to ground. When the wires are unconnected the whole graph just wiggles all over the place. Have i got the sensitivity wrong somehow?

I think i need a multimeter.

Huge thanks,

Susan

[Plusea]

have you set the internal pull-up resistor? or connected an external one (about 20K, between plus and input)?
using conductive fabric instead of stitching with conductive thread does reduce the range of the sensor. so that it might just be acting like an on/off switch, with no analog range. you might want to try a few more layers of velostat in between. or making the conductive surfaces smaller.

hope this helps.

[katsideswide]

Hello,

Thanks for your advice! I've tested it with a 9v battery and an led, it gives a great response! (although it heats up a little...) I'll fiddle with the resistors as you recommend, although i can't find the option for the internal resistor, is it in the arduino sketch or the processing sketch?

-Susan

[Plusea]

you might want to use a 3V coin cell battery or two AA (or AAA) batteries. the 9V can burn through conductive thread if it shorts the battery.
you can set the internal pull-up in the arduino code. for analog input0:
void setup(){
digitalWrite(14, HIGH);
}

[katsideswide]

Ah! i've got it working! thank you so much!

[Richuk]

Hi Plusea,

The links you posted appear broken, do you have them still.

Many thanks in advance!

[cuchara]

Hi Plusea,

i really like your work, it's awesome!
I've followed your instructables and managed to build a bend sensor which I am now trying to visualize. The site to download the code and application does not exsits though.. :( Did you move the code somewhere?
Thank you and keep u the amazing work!
Cuchara

[ghough]

You could use the standard Arduino Analog Input code, albeit slightly altered, to find the bend. I did it this way and then I was able to visualise it in Blender using a simple python script that read the bend sensor value from the serial port and applied it to the movement of an object.

This is just an alternative option in case you can't find the code of course.

[windrago]

I have the same issue - cuchara, did you manage to find the files for the visualization?

thx
amok