ROBOTIC TEXTILES

Robotic textiles - Fluidic-based soft, wearable robotic systems fabricated from textiles have the advantages of being compliant, lightweight and robust. However, such devices are commonly powered by pressurized fluids which require heavy, bulky and noisy hardware such as pumps and valving. I co-developed STATS – smart thermally actuating textiles which utilize an integrated low boiling point fluid that can be heated with conductive textiles to cause expansion and inflation of an actuator. A fully textile-based soft sensor integrated with the STAT module is used to monitor the fluid, allowing a control system to regulate actuation pressure. STATS can be integrated into therapeutic wearable garments for mechanotherapy and other intelligent apparel. STATs can be fabricated into large arrays to make programmable soft materials capable of morphing shape and compliance. Such devices can be integrated into apparel to create smart wearables.