From left, Slippery Rock University professor Jheng-Wun Su and SRU student Janey Parks work in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab operating a robotic hand that will be used to test wearable sensors that capture human movements. Slippery Rock University/Submitted Photo
Michael Schnelle
“Hands-on research” is a term often used to describe how college students learn through active participation in laboratory experiments, but one Slippery Rock University student is taking on a project that is even more literal when it comes to the touch of fingertips.
Janey Parks, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from New Brighton, is working in the Advanced Manufacturing Lab in SRU's Vincent Science Center this summer to find ways to improve the wearable sensors that respond to touch and capture motion.
Devices that monitor body movements and other wearable technology play a vital role in the fields of health care, robotics and many other applications. The sensors that are used in these devices are lightweight and flexible but require high precision.
That's where Parks comes in. Under the direction of faculty mentor Jheng-Wun Su, assistant professor of engineering, Parks is working in the lab at SRU four days a week and is being paid a stipend through SRU’s Summer Collaborative Research Experience grant program.
“This is really interesting,” Parks said. “I love working behind the scenes here in the lab and trying to figure out the right parameters and solutions by using the printers to create these sensors. There’s a lot to learn about the science behind them.”
Parks is using a laser engraver to treat a thin, two-dimensional layer of carbon atoms called graphene to create flexible material that has conductive properties. This laser-induced graphene technology, known as LIG, is used in bendable electronics and sensors because the materials produced boast exceptional sensitivity and flexibility that are ideal for capturing detailed movements accurately.
“We can transfer any kind of patterns we want into a flexible, stretchable substance layer that has wires, distinguishes movement and collects data,” Su said. “When applied to the skin surface, these sensors can be used in the health care field for early detection of diseases, but our goal is to develop a sensor that can detect the very subtle movements.”
These types of wearable sensors can be used for everything from preventing arthritis or overused muscles, to monitoring coughing and breathing rates of people with a respiratory illness. But they are potentially useful in a broad range of application fields.
Parks is conducting a series of experiments with postage-stamp-size graphene samples that are mixed with a rubbery material called elastomer. Because graphene is so fragile, it needs to be treated with other substances. Her goal is to reduce the surface resistance, but there is a lot of trial and error to get the desired product. She will then apply the sensor to a robotic hand to simulate human hand motions for motion detection experiments.
“She plays an important role using the laser to treat these materials,” Su said. “There are so many things to consider, and she is exploring what kind of patterns and parameters are best for our application.”
“I benefit from this experience in a lot of ways,” Parks said. “I want to go into a career where I will use these skills, and I'm learning a lot. I just finished my freshman year, so I haven't taken classes where I will learn these skills, and this research will prepare me and give me an advantage.”
Justin Zackal is a communication specialist with Slippery Rock University.
