Functional Sock With Laser-Induced Graphene-Based Triboelectric Sensor for Gait Monitoring Applications

This study reported a sock-based triboelectric gait sensor designed for gait monitoring. The sensor integrates laser-induced graphene (LIG) on Kevlar textile, encapsulated in Ecoflex, which functions as the negative triboelectric layer during interaction with floor surfaces. The LIG-based triboelectric sensor achieves a stable voltage output of +/- 12 V and a short-circuit current of +/- 1.5 mu A at a contact frequency of 1.0 Hz and a separation distance of 25 mm. A random forest classifier was employed to distinguish between walking, running, and jumping based on voltage amplitude and frequency features, achieving an accuracy of 95.39%. To enhance user accessibility, a graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for intuitive visualization of classification results. This flexible self-powered sock-based sensor offers a comfortable and efficient alternative to traditional insole-based systems, advancing wearable technology for precise gait analysis.