Development of respiratory monitoring and actions recognition based on a pressure sensor with multi-arch structures

•Finding a method of greatly improving the voltage output of the pressure sensor fabricated by polyvinylidene fluoride film.•Verifying the accuracy of the assumption of the principle.•Sets of experiments showed that the belt monitoring system could obtain the wearers’ respiratory signals conveniently.•The proposed wearable belt system for respiration provides the basement of implementation for remote diagnosis and home care.