The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller
How It Works
Transceiver Module
Flex Sensor
Breadboard Circuit for Transmitter
Transmitter Source Code
Printed Circuit Board for Transmitter
Mount the PCB to the Glove
Receiver Circuit and Code

Published January 11, 2022 © GPL3+

The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller

The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller makes it possible to control your projects with your finger movements via wireless communication.

IntermediateShowcase (no instructions)3 hours1,441

Things used in this project

Hardware components

Adafruit Long Flex sensor

Arduino Nano V3

NRF24L01 Transceiver

10uF Capacitor

10K Resistor

Header Male

Header Female

Power Jack 5.5MM

On/Off Switch

Software apps and online services

Arduino IDE

Hand tools and fabrication machines

Soldering Iron Kit

Story

The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller

The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller makes it possible to control your projects with your finger movements via wireless communication. The flexible sensor hand controller acts as a transmitter. Also, in this project, we built the Arduino Robot Tank circuit with dual DC motor as a receiver. As a result, we have provided a Robot Tank control wirelessly with finger movements. Let's take a look at the video on "how it works?

How It Works?

Project Video

The Flexible Sensor Hand Control contains 5 flex sensors whose resistance changes upon bending. Flex sensors, also known as bend sensors, are easy-to-use sensors specifically designed to measure the amount of deflection or bending. The resistance values measured by bending are the analog values. These values are compared with the threshold values in the code and the functions are executed. Circuit uses an nRF24L01 transceiver module to communicate this data wirelessly. Of course, an Arduino Nano V3 microcontroller was used to do all this.

Let's take a closer look at the main components used in the project.

Transceiver Module

1 / 3 • nRF24L01+ transceiver module and power adaptor

nRF24L01+ Transceiver Module
Frequency Range 2.4 GHz ISM Band
Communication Range: 800+ m (line of sight)

The nRF24L01 + transceiver module allows two or more Arduino boards to communicate with each other wirelessly and remotely. A transmitter and a receiver circuit are required to provide communication. An address (array of bytes) is created for two nRF24L01 modules to communicate. It communicates over this address and transfers data. If you are having any problem with getting it work, try adding a 10uF capacitor in parallel to the Vcc and Ground pins. Or you can use the power adapter module produced for the nRF24L01+

A popular library called RF24 is used to interface with the nRF24L01 transceiver module. RF24 Arduino Library for nRF24L01 Module: https://github.com/nRF24/RF24

Flex Sensor

1 / 2 • Flex Sensor 4.5″

A flexible sensor, also known as a bending sensor, is a sensor designed to measure the amount of bending. In fact, a flex sensor is basically a resistor whose resistance value changes upon bending. Since the resistance value is directly proportional to the amount of bending, it can also be called a Flexible Potentiometer.

Flex sensors are generally available in two sizes: one is 2.2″ and another is 4.5″ long. In this project, flexible sensors with a length of 4.5″ (11.4cm) were used. Of course, you can also use 2.2″ (5.5cm) long flexible sensors, it will not affect the project circuit.

Breadboard Circuit for Transmitter

Flex Sensor Transmitter Breadboard Circuit

Flex Sensor Transmitter Schematic

It is quite easy to connect a flex sensor to an Arduino. You need to connect a 10kΩ resistor with the flex sensor to create a voltage divider circuit. Then the point between the resistor and the flex sensor is connected to the Analog ADC input of an Arduino.

The shared breadboard circuit diagram shows how to connect 5 flex sensors and the nRF24L01+ transceiver module. Build your circuit according to this circuit diagram.

Transmitter Source Code

Flex Sensor Results

A transmitter code that reads sensor data from Arduino's ADC pin and prints the output to the serial monitor. For most projects, that's pretty much all that's needed. Upload the shared source code. If all is well, you should see a change in resistance and estimated angle calculation as you bend the flex sensor.

Printed Circuit Board for Transmitter

Printed Circuit Board - PCB

A printed circuit board was designed to turn the transmitter into a useful prototype. In this way, the prototype can be easily mounted on a glove.

Printed circuit boards are plates with conductive paths on the surface for mounting electronic circuit components. To get the PCBs, simply upload the shared Gerber file - pcbway.com/project/shareproject/The_wireless_flexible to PCBWay and create an order. High-quality PCBs will arrive in a few days depending on the shipping address.

Soldering

The Flex Hand Controller needs a few components. Easy solderable components. Place and solder components according to shared reference designator.

BOM - Designator

Mount the PCB to the Glove

1 / 2 • Glove

After PCB soldering is complete, mount the prototype using a cable tie on a simple glove. Then upload the shared transmitter code. Then view the values of bending movement of all fingers from the serial monitor and save them for later use.

Upload the Source Code

Receiver Circuit and Code

Receiver - Motor Control Circuit

On the receiver side, you can control many types of motors. In this project, double DC motor robot tank circuit was built and controlled. After installing the shared schematic, upload the receiver code by updating it with the flex sensor values you obtained. Then start the show!

Code

#include <SPI.h>                      //the communication interface with the modem
#include "RF24.h"                     //the library which helps us to control the radio modem

//define the data pins
int flexPin2 = A2;
int flexPin3 = A3;
int flexPin4 = A4;

//define variable values
int flexVal2;
int flexVal3;
int flexVal4;

int data[3];

RF24 radio(10,9);                     //10 and 9 are a digital pin numbers to which signals CE and CSN are connected.
                                      
const uint64_t pipe = 0xE8E8F0F0E1LL; //the address of the modem, that will receive data from Arduino.


void setup(void){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  radio.begin();                      //it activates the modem.
  radio.openWritingPipe(pipe);        //sets the address of the receiver to which the program will send data.
}

void loop(){
  //Send signal data
  flexVal2 = analogRead(flexPin2);
  flexVal3 = analogRead(flexPin3);
  flexVal4 = analogRead(flexPin4);
  
  data[0] = flexVal2;
  data[1] = flexVal3;
  data[2] = flexVal4;
  
  radio.write(data, sizeof(data));
  
}

#include <SPI.h>      //the communication interface with the modem
#include "RF24.h"     //the library which helps us to control the radio modem (nRF24L)

//Motor A
const int RightMotorForward = 3;    // IN1
const int RightMotorBackward = 2;   // IN2
//Motor B
const int LeftMotorForward = 5;     // IN3
const int LeftMotorBackward = 4;    // IN4


RF24 radio(10,9);     /*This object represents a modem connected to the Arduino. 
                      Arguments 10 and 9 are a digital pin numbers to which signals 
                      CE and CSN are connected.*/

const uint64_t pipe = 0xE8E8F0F0E1LL; //the address of the modem,that will receive data from the Arduino.

int data[3];


void setup(){
  Serial.begin(9600);
  pinMode(RightMotorForward, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LeftMotorForward, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(LeftMotorBackward, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(RightMotorBackward, OUTPUT);
  
  radio.begin();                    //it activates the modem.
  radio.openReadingPipe(1, pipe);   //determines the address of our modem which receive data.
  radio.startListening();           //enable receiving data via modem
  }

void loop(){
  if(radio.available()){
    radio.read(data, sizeof(data));
    
    
    if(data[0] > 750){
    digitalWrite(RightMotorForward, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(RightMotorBackward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorForward, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorBackward, LOW);
    Serial.println("FORWARD");
    }

    if(data[1] > 750){
    digitalWrite(RightMotorForward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(RightMotorBackward, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorForward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorBackward, HIGH);
    Serial.println("BACKWARD");
    }
    
    if(data[2] > 750 ){
    digitalWrite(RightMotorForward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(RightMotorBackward, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorForward, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorBackward, LOW);
    Serial.println("TURN");
    }

    if(data[0] < 750 && data[1] < 750 && data[2] < 750 ){
    digitalWrite(RightMotorForward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(RightMotorBackward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorForward, LOW);
    digitalWrite(LeftMotorBackward, LOW);
    Serial.println("STOP");
    }

  }
}

Credits

Maker 101

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The Flexible Sensor Hand Controller