The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction
Publications / 2025 Proceedings of the 42nd ISARC, Montreal, Canada
Next-Generation Stretchable EDA Sensors with Ag-NP Fractals for Motion Artifact-Free Physiological Sensing in Dynamic Environments
Construction workers frequently encounter substantial mental stress due to the high demands of their roles, including tight deadlines and challenging environmental conditions. Although electrodermal activity (EDA) sensors offer a promising solution for monitoring stress levels, traditional designs are often inflexible, leading to issues such as poor skin contact, elevated contact impedance, and motion artifacts that compromise the quality of the collected signals. To overcome these challenges, this paper introduces a stretchable EDA sensor featuring a Peano-Gosper fractal design aimed at enhancing adaptability and minimizing motion-related interference. Through a finite element analysis, several design variations were assessed, with the fractal pattern demonstrating superior skin contact and reduced mechanical strain, making it highly suitable for real-world applications. Experimental results indicated significant advancements in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), with the fractal-designed sensor achieving nearly 8 dB improvement compared to conventional EDA sensors during experimental construction activities. This development enhances the reliability of EDA measurements and corresponding mental stress monitoring, ultimately contributing to improved health and safety outcomes for construction workers.
