SqueezeMe: Creating Soft Inductive Pressure Sensors with Ferromagnetic Elastomers

At CHI’25 we present our latest research on elastic pressure sensors. In this work, we dive into how pressure sensors can be made from ferromagnetic particles and elastomers, like the silicone Ecoflex. We explore how tweaking the softness of the silicone or using different magnetic fillers affects its performance, and show off its wide range of potential uses — from pulse sensing to measuring air pressure or weight.

We described the full process from fabrication (A, B, C) to application (D, E) of the soft inductive pressure sensor.

Our sensor, SqueezeMe, is a soft, flexible, and biocompatible inductive pressure sensor designed for seamless integration into wearable systems and soft robotic platforms. Unlike traditional pressure sensors, SqueezeMe detects mechanical deformation by measuring changes in inductance caused by the redistribution of ferromagnetic particles within the elastomer matrix. This enables high sensitivity without the need for rigid or fragile components.

The fabrication process is simple and customizable. By varying the Shore hardness of the base silicone and experimenting with different types and concentrations of magnetic fillers, we demonstrate how sensor sensitivity and responsiveness can be tuned to suit specific application needs. The result is a versatile sensor architecture capable of precise force measurements across a wide range of use cases.

Four different ferromagnetic fillers we explored in our paper: Ancorsteel 1000C Powder (A), Fine Iron Powder (B), Coarse Iron Powder (C), and Magnetite Powder (D).

In our evaluations, we showcase how SqueezeMe can be used to detect subtle physiological signals such as a human pulse, as well as more static forces like applied weight or an bicycle tires air pressure. These capabilities make it particularly promising for wearable health monitoring, environmental sensing, and as a tactile interface element in soft robotics.

This work highlights a practical approach to developing soft and adaptable pressure sensors, emphasizing material flexibility as a key factor in enabling integration into wearable and deformable systems.

T. Preindl, A. Pointner, N. J. Kumar, N. Cohen, N. Münzenrieder, M. Haller “SqueezeMe: Creating Soft Inductive Pressure Sensors with Ferromagnetic Elastomers” in Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems Conference, New York, NY, USA, 2025