Sensors built into wearable patches could signal the future

New research involving a Northumbria University Professor has developed a wearable sensor capable of wirelessly transmitting information via acoustic waves through air and water.

Many sensors require additional antenna to achieve wireless or real-time functions, which has an impact on their size. And the performance of those operated with radio frequency signals (RF) has been shown to deteriorate when used in water and inside metal.

Research teams led by Professor Fu and Professor Xie have worked together to identify surface materials that are flexible enough to withstand tiny vibrations capable of transmitting and receiving information, in order to develop their device as a wearable patch.