Researchers in England are making robotic clothes that could help society. They named them “The Right Trousers.” The name is inspired by a movie called “The Wrong Trousers,” where a new pair of pants lets people walk on walls and ceilings. The robot pants are embedded with electrical pumps to force air into little tubes that expand and can help elderly or disabled people with getting up or improving blood circulation.
Material scientists, computer programmers, and fabric designers are working quickly to make more robotic clothing, drawing us closer to a reality where the clothes we wear will help keep us healthy or make tasks easier.
“We’re sort of at the pre-iPhone announcement [stage],” said Yoel Fink, a science professor at MIT. “It’s very, very exciting.”
In June, researchers in Australia created robotic fibers which can make fabric move on its own. Last year, scientists at MIT made computer programmable threads and built fiber batteries that could be embedded into clothes.
Researchers said their work is just beginning and could soon lead to an era where clothing will resemble a computer, sensing how your body feels and telling your clothes how to help.
In recent years, companies have started to release smart clothing, which are connected to cell phones. Google partnered with brands like Levi’s, Yves Saint Laurent, and Adidas to put sensors in denim jackets, backpacks, and shoes, with features like swiping sleeves to change music. Wearablex built yoga pants that release vibrations to improve your posture, all through a smartphone.
Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, a mechanical engineering professor at Yale University, said it will be challenging to remove the bulk of the specialized fibers. Researchers will have to find the best way to place robotic fibers in fabrics while making sure the power sources are lightweight.
She said, “Recent breakthroughs point toward a not-so-distant future where smart textiles will be a part of our everyday wardrobe.”
Despite the challenges, these discoveries all point to a bright, technology-filled future, where the difficulties we currently face will vanish with innovation.
Material scientists, computer programmers, and fabric designers are working quickly to make more robotic clothing, drawing us closer to a reality where the clothes we wear will help keep us healthy or make tasks easier.
“We’re sort of at the pre-iPhone announcement [stage],” said Yoel Fink, a science professor at MIT. “It’s very, very exciting.”
In June, researchers in Australia created robotic fibers which can make fabric move on its own. Last year, scientists at MIT made computer programmable threads and built fiber batteries that could be embedded into clothes.
Researchers said their work is just beginning and could soon lead to an era where clothing will resemble a computer, sensing how your body feels and telling your clothes how to help.
In recent years, companies have started to release smart clothing, which are connected to cell phones. Google partnered with brands like Levi’s, Yves Saint Laurent, and Adidas to put sensors in denim jackets, backpacks, and shoes, with features like swiping sleeves to change music. Wearablex built yoga pants that release vibrations to improve your posture, all through a smartphone.
Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, a mechanical engineering professor at Yale University, said it will be challenging to remove the bulk of the specialized fibers. Researchers will have to find the best way to place robotic fibers in fabrics while making sure the power sources are lightweight.
She said, “Recent breakthroughs point toward a not-so-distant future where smart textiles will be a part of our everyday wardrobe.”
Despite the challenges, these discoveries all point to a bright, technology-filled future, where the difficulties we currently face will vanish with innovation.
