Moisture sensors - do they exist

  • Thread starter Thread starter speedobreedo
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sensors
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence and feasibility of moisture sensors, particularly those that can detect sweat in humans and be integrated into clothing. Participants explore various sensor technologies and their applications in monitoring bodily fluids.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the availability of microchips or RFID technology that can detect moisture, specifically in relation to human sweat.
  • Others suggest that various sensors exist for measuring humidity and moisture, prompting a request for clarification on specific applications.
  • One participant proposes using resistance measurements to detect sweat, noting that sweat's conductivity could be leveraged for this purpose, while also mentioning the importance of adhering to safety standards for human contact.
  • Another participant raises the possibility of using a chemical that changes color in response to sweat, suggesting an alternative to electronic sensors.
  • There is a discussion about the need for an audible alert system based on sensor readings, with one participant expressing interest in using RFID technology for this purpose, although uncertainty about its feasibility remains.
  • It is noted that sensors typically do not produce alerts on their own and would require additional circuitry to generate an audible signal.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that moisture sensors exist and can be used for various applications, but there is no consensus on the specific technology or method that would be most effective for detecting sweat in clothing.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the need for further exploration of the safety standards for human contact measurements and the technical feasibility of integrating sensors with audible alert systems.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals interested in wearable technology, biomedical engineering, or the development of smart textiles.

speedobreedo
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
This is a complete newbie type question as I am certainly not an electrical engineer.
Are there such things as microchips or RFID's that detect moisture? I'm thinking of things like sweat in humans. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks, I appreciate any comments
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
speedobreedo said:
This is a complete newbie type question as I am certainly not an electrical engineer.
Are there such things as microchips or RFID's that detect moisture? I'm thinking of things like sweat in humans. Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks, I appreciate any comments

Welcome to the PF.

Yes, there are all kinds of sensors that deal with humidity and moisture. What is the exact application?
 
Really for bodily fluids e.g sweat, to be affixed into clothing to see where humans sweat the most under certain conditions. I know that's broad but really looking into a small unobtrusive sensor that can be sewn into clothing
Thanks
 
speedobreedo said:
Really for bodily fluids e.g sweat, to be affixed into clothing to see where humans sweat the most under certain conditions. I know that's broad but really looking into a small unobtrusive sensor that can be sewn into clothing
Thanks

You could probably do it reasonably with resistance measurements, since sweat is conductive. You would need to be sure to design the system in accordance with human contact measurement safety standards, like UL 544.

Could you just do it with some chemical means instead? Like some benign chemical that you can put into a garment that changes color based on how much sweat there is...
 
Yes, possibly but I'm looking for an audible alert based on multiple testing scenarios rather than a visual one. e.g. an alert from a sensor to a receiving unit. That's why I thought of RFID's but I have no idea if that's possible or of the size they are.
 
Sensors as components just sense things, they don't produce audible alerts (generally speaking). You would have to have some other circuitry to read the sensors and produce an alert.
 

Similar threads

Replies
8
Views
3K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Replies
4
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Replies
1
Views
965
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
2K