Project title: Stretchable Electronics to Monitor Fruit Growth
Project description: This PhD project aims to design, develop, and test stretchable electronics in an open field: strain sensor to continuously monitor apple fruit growth. Existing sensors are bulky and expensive; the aim of this project is to propose a lightweight, stable, and affordable prototype by exploring stretchable electronics alternatives. Currently, screen printing is being used to print stretchable conductive inks on thermoplastic substrates. This 2D fabrication technique has been chosen because of its industrial scalability, which allows for a reduction in the cost of sensor fabrication. The printed geometries are designed to wrap around the fruit's maximum equatorial diameter like a belt, interconnected with a specially designed 3D-printed buckle.
For more information please contact Michele Gullino