Optical Fiber Sensors for the Next Generation of Rehabilitation Robotics presents development concepts and applications of optical fiber sensors made of compliant materials in rehabilitation robotics. The book provides methods for the instrumentation of novel compliant devices. It presents the development, characterization and application of optical fiber sensors in robotics, ranging from conventional robots with rigid structures to novel wearable systems with soft structures, including smart textiles and intelligent structures for healthcare. Readers can look to this book for help in designing robotic structures for different applications, including problem-solving tactics in soft robotics. This book will be a great resource for mechanical, electrical and electronics engineers and photonics and optical sensing engineers. - Addresses optical fiber sensing solutions in wearable systems and soft robotics - Presents developments-from foundational, to novel and future applications-of optical fiber sensors in the next generation of robotic devices - Provides methods for the instrumentation of novel compliant devices

Arnaldo G. Leal-Junior was born in Uberlandia, Brazil, in 1991. He received the B.S. degree in mechanical engineering and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES), Brazil, in 2015 and 2018, respectively. He is currently a professor in the mechanical engineering Department, UFES. His research interests include optical fiber sensors with emphasis on polymer optical fiber sensors, robotic systems, instrumentation and actuators.

Part 1: Introduction to soft robotics and rehabilitation systems 1. Wearable robots technologies 2. Soft robots technologies (actuation and applications) 3. Human-in-the-loop design of soft structures and healthcare systems

Part 2: Introduction to optical fiber sensing 4. Optical fiber fundaments and overview 5. Optical fiber materials 6. Optical fiber sensing technologies

Part 3: Optical fiber sensors in rehabilitation systems 7. Instrumentation of exoskeletons and prosthetics device 8. Complaint actuators instrumentation 9. Smart structures and textiles for gait analysis 10. Soft robotics instrumentation

Part 4: Case studies 11. Additive layer manufacturing on smart structures development in healthcare 12. Smart walkers instrumentation and development with compliant optical fiber sensors 13. Multifunctional smart textiles