ACTIVE-CONTRACTING VARIABLE-STIFFNESS FABRICS FOR SELF-FITTING WEARABLES

Area of Science:

• Materials Science and Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Self-fitting garments are crucial for accurate body proximity in various wearable applications, from healthcare to robotics.
• Existing compliant fabrics lack the necessary stiffness for integrated sensors and actuators, leading to drift and deflection.
• Achieving accurate fit for diverse body shapes and sizes remains a challenge for functional apparel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel, functionally gradient self-fitting garment addressing individual and population fit challenges.
• To merge smart materials, anthropometric analysis, and functional apparel design for advanced wearable solutions.
• To develop a garment capable of precise actuation and minimal on-body pressure.

Main Methods:

• Development of a novel methodology for designing contractile Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) knitted actuator garments.
• Construction of a fully functional garment using SMA knitted actuator fabrics.
• Experimental analysis of garment performance using three-dimensional marker tracking.

Main Results:

• The self-fitting garment exhibits tunable %-actuation contractions ranging from 4-50%.
• The garment exerts minimal on-body pressure, measured at or below 1333 Pa (10 mmHg).
• The design allows for potential self-powering capabilities using body heat.

Conclusions:

• The proposed functionally gradient self-fitting garment effectively addresses the challenge of achieving accurate fit without excessive pressure.
• The novel design and manufacturing methodology provide a pathway for advanced, adaptive wearable systems.
• Experimental validation confirms the garment's performance in achieving precise body proximity and controlled actuation.