Introduction This flex sensor is a variable resistor like no other. The resistance of the flex sensor increases as the body of the component bends. Sensors like these were used in the Nintendo Power Glove. They can also be used as door sensors, robot whisker sensors, or a primary component in creating sentient stuffed animals.
Features - Angle Displacement Measurement - Bends and Flexes physically with motion device - Possible Uses - Robotics - Gaming (Virtual Motion) - Medical Devices - Computer Peripherals - Musical Instruments - Physical Therapy - Simple Construction - Low Profile
Mechanical Specifications -Life Cycle: >1 million -Height: 0.43mm (0.017") -Temperature Range: -35°C to +80°C
Flex sensors are available in two sizes: one 2.2" (5.588cm) long and another coming in at 4.5" (11.43cm) long.
Left flat, these sensors will look like a 30kΩ resistor. As it bends, the resistance between the two terminals will increase to as much as 70kΩ at a 90° angle.
By combining the flex sensor with a static resistor to create a voltage divider, you can produce a variable voltage that can be read by a microcontroller's analog-to-digital converter.
Flex Sensor Overview Before we get to circuit-building and Arduino-programming, here's a quick rundown of the flex sensor's important electrical characteristics.
How it Works One side of the sensor is printed with a polymer ink that has conductive particles embedded in it. When the sensor is straight, the particles give the ink a resistance of about 30k Ohms. When the sensor is bent away from the ink, the conductive particles move further apart, increasing this resistance (to about 50k-70K Ohms when the sensor is bent to 90°, as in the diagram below).