Understanding flex sensors
Because we move in all sorts of ways, a flex sensor can be a great way to track some of that movement. Where do we bend? Elbows, wrists, fingers, toes, ankles, knees, and the waist are a few examples. We can buy flex sensors, that are of various lengths. To get an accurate reading, you need to consider the position and how you can protect the sensor. Be sure it isn’t too delicate a sensor if it is placed somewhere with vigorous bends.
In terms of sensors, you can get a carbon-impregnated conductive rubber cord or a flex sensor/bend sensor, which is like a variable resistor. As it bends, the resistance values change. There are also a variety of linear soft pot ribbon sensors, square force-sensitive resistors, circular soft potentiometers, and round force-sensitive resistors available. We will look at these in more detail in Chapter 5, Working with Sensors: All about inputs!.
By measuring the resistance, we can tell how much bend there is. We...
