Bend Labs, a soft sensor platform company, says, “the integration of soft sensor technology is disrupting just about every industry imaginable.” Hoping to inspire designers to create new, innovative ways to incorporate soft sensors, the company has introduced soft-sensor developer kits. “Our development kits will allow entrepreneurs, engineers, makers, and existing companies the freedom to develop cutting-edge ways soft sensors can be used to measure, analyze and monitor motion,” said Jared Jonas, Bend Labs co-founder and Chief Product Officer.
The company’s soft sensors are designed to reject any stretching or extraneous bending, which in turn offers a high-fidelity measurement of angular displacement. The soft sensors are made of medical grade silicone rubber and can bend, stretch, and conform to any contour. Sensors can measure one or two axes of angular displacement, and, unlike gyroscope-based sensors and plastic flex sensors, there is zero drift, opening the door to ultra-stable and low power angle measurements.
Basic developer kits include the option of one or two axis motion boards, with an integrated six-axis IMU and a battery. The premium developer kit offers additional features such as a haptic, data logger and proto shield, specialized tape, enclosure, along with a haptic motor and headers. Development kits are Arduino compatible and feature integrated BLE along with an Android quick start app and API for custom app development. Both kits are available for preorder, and range in price from around $100 to $180, depending on the kit. For more information visit Bend Labs.