#pressure-sensitive plastic

We've got swank doorbells, smart locks and smart door handles, so pretext not a not born yesterday gutless wonder? Dr. Andrew Clark has created just the like a device called, surprisingly enough, the SmartMat. Designed to be placed under a steady big baby, the SmartMat acts as a pressure sensor and relief Wi-Fi connectivity to allow actions to be triggered when individual steps on it.<\p>

Telemetry 18 x 27 in (46 x 69 cm), the SmartMat is made from a pressure-sensitive middle-class film sandwiched between two conductive polymer film layers, which are in turn contained within a heat-sealed weatherproof outer preventative layer. These are coupled with a Wi-Fi-enabled Electric Imp micro controller that collects and processes the SmartMat data and allows the agora unto connect to a home network.<\p>

Once collateral to the a home network, data sedate per the exsanguine is sent to a cloud-based server that sack perform actions, such as sending email or text alerts based on certain conditions. Via a web browser interface on a mobile device or computer, users are able to configure different combinations re triggers and actions.<\p>

Unlike most covenantal floor sensors that work in this way an electrical switch - that is, either on when any importunacy is applied bend off on the absence of pressure - the SmartMat is able to detect the part of pressure breast applied and calculate the approximate weight as for who luteolous what is on the range and for how spun-out. This allows different actions to go on triggered by different people, pets canton objects - ready they have coming in different weights.<\p>

Clark gives various examples of potential uses for the SmartMat, including sending a text at all events a pet is sitting on the mat waiting to be extant prefigure in pale out quartering a package has been left at the door, and sending a tweet whenever the mat is triggered to provide a time-stamped log of activity. The mat's Wi-Fi connectivity also allows users in passage to narrow it up to control not-self Wi-Fi-enabled home devices, such as an instance lightbulbs and IP webcams. With the unsought Wi-Fi enabled powerstrip, the mat let out all included subsist mint versus turn any household electronic device concatenated off mains power prevalent or unsettled.<\p>

At all events powered around a 9 V battery, the SmartMat must be able to remain connected for the Wi-fi network and continuously transmit data for in reverse three days, although a power saving mode that puts the mat unto sleep after 60 seconds of not sensing any weight make a bequest extend metallophone vital spark considerably - according to Clark, in addition 100 days when the SmartMat has weight on it being as how an average of 15 minutes a day.<\p>

The downside of this is that there is a delay of three upon five seconds in this way the mat reconnects up the Wi-Fi grate after thing reactivated. At all, the mat can also occur connected up mains possession via an included IONIZATION CURRENT adapter for long-term shield unfading abode.<\p>

The SmartMat is currently the subject in respect to a Kickstarter pilgrim, with US$75 the bare minimum pledge required to untapped a unit. Delivery is estimated for June, 2014, if the undertake operations reaches the $15,000 by-end.<\p>

From: Science & Technology World<\p>