Disclosed is an apparatus including an elongated structure extending between a first end and a second end. The elongated structure is compliant material that is flexible and bendable from a linear, non-bent position to multiple bendable positions and is an elastomer based material. The apparatus also includes a compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor includes a first conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along a longitudinal length of the elongated structure to form a first electrode of the compliant capacitor. The compliant capacitor also includes a second conductive filler embedded within and extending from the first end to the second end along the longitudinal length to form a second electrode of the compliant capacitor. The first conductive filler and the second conductive filler extend linearly in separate planes that are parallel relative to one another throughout the elongated structure from the first end to the second end. The compliant capacitor further includes an elastomer dielectric layer extending between the first conductive filler and the second conductive filler. The capacitance of the compliant capacitor changes in proportion to an applied strain on the elongated structure.
