An optical sensor for tracking hand articulations

Recognizing and tracking articulations of the human hand is key to the development of areas such as robotics, virtual reality systems and physical rehabilitation. Based on the principle of crossed-polarization detection, a novel optical sensor with a hinge configuration, is proposed to monitor finger articulation. Using 3D printing technology, we fabricated a lightweight and compact sensor suited to attaching on fingers. The weighted average method was applied to the sensor's output data to determine angular positions corresponding to finger joint articulations. The experimental results show excellent consistency with theoretical predictions. The sensor features good accuracy (±0.5% of full scale) and repeatability, improved sensitivity, and an improved measuring range of 180°. The performance of the sensor is a promising development for monitoring finger articulation. Future work will focus on integrating multiple sensors as part of an instrumented glove to evaluate the true potential for monitoring hand articulation.