NSF-BSF: CCSS: Resistance Tomography with 2D Sensor Membranes

This research will use tomographic algorithms to convert resistive measurements at the periphery of a strain-sensitive membrane into a 2D map of the local pressures applied throughout the area of the membrane. The membrane will be made of a nanotube-silicone conducting composite developed for this purpose, and new tomographic reconstruction algorithms will be derived and tested under this grant to create the strain map. A wireless interface to the membrane will allow this strain-sensor map to be easily employed in-the-field for various mechanical, medical, and engineering applications. The trivial fabrication method of the sensor component – i.e. composite membrane plus contacts – and the conformability of the sensor to measure changing strains around any shape make for a mass-producible, easily implemented, and highly versatile strain sensor.