Intelligent recognition of human motion using an ingenious electronic skin based on metal fabric and natural triboelectrification

Various techniques based on electronic or optical signals have been developed to perceive body movements, which is essential in several fields such as healthcare, rehabilitation, and human-computer interaction. However, these signals are obtained externally, not from within the body. In this study, we introduce an electronic skin (e-skin) body motion sensor prepared using organic polymers and metal fabric to detect motion through the body’s electro-induction (EI) via contact with the ground and shoes or through intrinsic contact electrification of the skin. The device can achieve an EI signal up to 450 V and charge data of 40 V and 2.45 when it is detached from the contacted skin. Moreover, the signal can be automatically extracted and trained using the state-of-the-art deep learning techniques. The sensor can accurately track sleep activity with an accuracy rate of 96.55%. This wearable motion sensor can be seamlessly combined with the Internet of Things technology for multifunctional applications, highlighting its potential applications in human activity recognition and artificial intelligence.