Porous Elastomer Based Wide Range Flexible Pressure Sensor for Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

This work presents the design and implementation of a porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based wide-range flexible pressure sensor for autonomous underwater vehicles. The capacitive sensor, with PDMS as dielectric, is encapsulated in bulk polymer. fabricated was evaluated over wide range (0-230 kPa), which similar to pressures experienced up approx. 23 m below sea level. sensors showed linear response when tested air near-linear (98%) submerged water. much higher sensitivity (0.375 kPa −1 ) water than environment. However, exhibited performance condition (0.005 readout electronics (encapsulated inside watertight enclosure) also along sensor. fast recovery time (190 ms), well excellent repeatability stability (no drift) 50 loading unloading cycles. These results demonstrate suitability presented potential use applications requiring pressure, particularly robotics where real-time monitoring critical operation.