Tubolar Stretch Sensor Tutorial

Connect the sensor to the power supply

The Tubolar Stretch Sensor is an analog textile sensor that changes its resistivity when it is pulled and stretched. It is useful for creating variable voltage divider that can be easily read by an Arduino.

Connect the input to the sensor

Connect one end of the sensor to the 5V pin of the Lilypad. Then you need to connect the other end to ground through a 1 kOhm resistor like shown in the picture.

How to read values with the Arduino

Now connect the analog input pin A5 of the Arduino to the end of the sensor connected to the resistor.

How to read the sensor value with Arduino

The sensor changes its resistance if you stretch it. This will change the voltage read by the Arduino.

The value read will change the blinking frequency of the LED.

int sensorPin = A5;    // select the input pin for the sensor
int ledPin = 13;      // select the pin for the LED
int sensorValue = 0;  // variable to store the value coming from the sensor
 
void setup() {
  // declare the ledPin as an OUTPUT:
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
}
 
void loop() {
  // read the value from the sensor:
  sensorValue = analogRead(sensorPin);
  // turn the ledPin on
  digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
  // stop the program for <sensorValue> milliseconds:
  delay(sensorValue);
  // turn the ledPin off:
  digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
  // stop the program for for <sensorValue> milliseconds:
  delay(sensorValue);
}