FBG Sensors Assisted Programmable Device for Plantar Pressure Measurement

This article presents a programmable device for plantar pressure measurement using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, integrated with a Python-based interface for data visualization, foot classification, and report generation. The device measures pressure at five key foot locations, classifying feet into categories such as normal, flat, pronated, supinated, and abnormal. The system demonstrates high sensitivity (355.98pm/kPa for left foot, 384.60 pm/kPa for right foot) and operates efficiently with a calibration factor of 6.4474. The interface features data storage, email functionality, and pdf report generation, making it suitable for clinical and healthcare applications. The study includes calibration and experimental validation with 70 subjects, and discusses potential future integrations, such as screen mounting for enhanced usability.