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video Homemade stretchsensors for robotic apps, made from conducting foam.
I used conducting foam, as used for the static protection of electronic components, as inputsensors to drive servo's. In this case I used 2 servo's but it's possible to use more. The Arduino sketch is the one that comes with the Arduino compiler (servo-knob) but the code is doubled for , in this case, 2 servo's and sensors.
As an original stretch sensor will cost 19 Euro's, you can save lots of money making them yourself in this way.
As an original stretch sensor will cost 19 Euro's, you can save lots of money making them yourself in this way.
I cut off a strip from a piece of conducting foam , stripped 2 wires and taped the wires on either side of the strip. If you stretch or comprime the foam you'll measure a difference in resistance which is the analog input for the arduino.
(btw: the foam is used by electronic component transport and manufaturing to prevent building up of static, maybe you can get some ata Radio-shack store. I got mine from a pcb case I use for my job.)
Have fun !
Kees