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Smart Textiles

Pic: ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich researchers develop textile sensor to detect exhaustion

28th Mar 2023

A team at ETH Zurich led by Professor Carlo Menon has developed a smart textile sensor that can measure physical exhaustion. Integrated into athletic leggings, the sensor uses a unique fibre structure to capture body movements precisely. The sensor’s potential applications could extend to preventing exhaustion-related injuries in the workplace and more.

Reactive fibres woven into plain, satin, twill, and weft rib fabrics. Pic: Pedro Silva/Aalto University
Finland’s researchers develop smart fabric that reacts to temp changes

27th Feb 2023

Researchers at Aalto University and Cambridge University have collaborated to create new textiles that can alter their shape based on the temperature. Such responsive smart fabrics not only offer adjustable aesthetics but also assist in tracking people’s health, enhance thermal insulation, and provide new tools for controlling room acoustics and design.

Twistrons, made from spun carbon nanotubes (CNTs), convert mechanical movement into electricity. Pic: The University of Texas at Dallas
US students develop carbon nanotube yarn harvesting mechanical energy

1st Feb 2023

Researchers in the US have made novel carbon nanotube yarns that convert mechanical movement into electricity more effectively than other material-based energy harvesters. Improvements to the invented high-tech yarns were called ‘twistrons,’ which generate electricity when stretched or twisted. Their new version is constructed much like cotton yarns.

Pic: Tohoku University
Researchers from Japan’s university develop microelectronic fibre

25th Jan 2023

A researchers’ team led by Dr Yuanyuan Guo from Japan’s Tohoku University's Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences has developed a microelectronic fibre with microscopic parameters that is capable of analysing electrolytes and metabolites in sweat. The fibre’s micrometre scale allows it to be woven into clothes for healthcare use.

Sibei Xia, assistant professor in the LSU department of textiles, apparel design, and merchandising. Pic: Annabelle Lang/LSU College of Agriculture
US researcher designs ‘smart’ hat that tracks babies’ body temperature

24th Jan 2023

Smart clothing made of thermochromic yarn that changes colour based on body temperature will soon be able to detect fever in newborns. Louisiana State University’s researcher Sibei Xia is developing body-tracking wearable technology—a hat—that could reduce the need for monitoring an infant’s temperature using thermometers and other invasive...

Pic: Sensoria Health
US’ Sensoria introduces first wearable tele-rehabilitation platform

9th Nov 2022

Sensoria Health, developer of tele-rehab remote patient monitoring wearable solutions, has introduced the first truly wearable tele-rehabilitation platform. Sensoria offers a patient-centric, multi-device mobile and cloud software tele-rehab system that makes it easy for clinicians to remotely monitor the most common conditions in their patient...

Pic: BeBop Sensors
US’ BeBop Sensors unveils RoboSkin Robo-Finger humanoid robotic finger

14th Oct 2022

BeBop Sensors, US’ leader in smart fabric sensor technologies, has unveiled the RoboSkin Robo-Finger humanoid robotic finger. The BeBop Sensors Robo-Finger evaluation system is a fabric-based sensor system that offers spatial resolution and sensitivity that far exceeds human abilities for a true partnership between humans and their robot helpers.

Pic: Guder Research Group
UK researchers embed sensors in clothes to monitor health

27th Sep 2022

UK researchers have embedded new low-cost sensors that monitor breathing, heart rate, and ammonia into T-shirts and face masks. Potential applications range from monitoring exercise, sleep, and stress to diagnosing and monitoring disease through breath and vital signs. Just $0.15 produces a metre of thread to integrate over ten sensors into clothing.

Fifty One Apparel sells clothing that regulates temperature swings from the symptoms of menopause, such as pajamas. Pic: Fifty One Ltd
Apparel using US’ NASA-funded technology can ease menopausal symptoms

6th Sep 2022

London-based clothing brand Fifty One Apparel uses a technology funded by US’ NASA called Outlast that can assist in alleviating symptoms of those suffering from menopause. By bonding Outlast to cellulosic yarn, the company’s clothing maintains the temperature-regulating properties of phase-change materials but retains the look and feel of high-end...

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