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Related Experiment Video

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Procedure for Fabricating Biofunctional Nanofibers
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Roboticizing fabric by integrating functional fibers.

Trevor L Buckner1, R Adam Bilodeau1, Sang Yup Kim1

  • 1School of Engineering & Applied Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
|September 29, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Researchers developed robotic fabrics by integrating active fibers and sensors into textiles. This innovation enables lightweight, breathable fabrics with robotic capabilities for diverse applications.

Keywords:
active fiberse-textilesfunctional fibersrobotic fabricsmart textiles

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science and Engineering
  • Robotics
  • Textile Technology

Background:

  • Traditional fabrics are passive materials, limiting their functional applications.
  • Emerging active fibers offer actuation, sensing, and structural properties.
  • Integrating active fibers into fabrics presents an opportunity for robotic textiles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To implement robotic fabrics by integrating functional fibers into conventional textile manufacturing.
  • To introduce actuating, variable-stiffness fibers, and in-fabric sensors for robotic fabric control.
  • To demonstrate the practical utility of robotic fabrics in real-world applications.

Main Methods:

  • Integration of functional fibers (actuating, variable-stiffness) using standard textile manufacturing.
  • Incorporation of printable in-fabric sensors for closed-loop control.
  • Development of lightweight and breathable robotic fabric systems.

Main Results:

  • Successful creation of robotic fabrics with integrated active and sensing functionalities.
  • Demonstration of closed-loop control in everyday fabrics.
  • Maintenance of fabric properties such as lightweight and breathability.

Conclusions:

  • Robotic fabrics can be manufactured using conventional textile techniques.
  • The developed system enables lightweight, breathable, and controllable robotic textiles.
  • Applications include active wearables, deployable structures, and self-stowing airfoils.