All around the world, researchers have begun pioneering advances in the field of robotic textiles. Such breakthroughs may drastically alter the clothes that we wear, as new forms of technology, including electrical pumps and silicon tubes make their way into the everyday apparel of individuals around the globe.
These advancements were inspired by a clay-animated movie The Wrong Trousers, in which people were able to walk on walls and ceilings using futuristic pants. This directly led to the creation of “The Right Trousers” in England, which featured sets of electrical pumps sewn into the pants to expand tiny tubes that would aid elderly or disabled individuals with issues such as standing up and improving blood circulation.
In other institutions around the world, researchers have also been progressing in creating robotic textile fibers. For example, scientists at MIT fabricated computer-programmable threads and fiber batteries that could be embedded into clothing. MIT has announced that it is beginning to develop smart clothes for soldiers and spies, an event that is “very, very exciting” for Yoel Fink, a materials science professor at the university.
Google has also partnered with brands such as Adidas and Levi’s through the Jacquard project to put sensors in clothing, shoes, and backpacks, allowing for one’s accessories to serve as technology through sleeves that can change music to instant access to one’s phone. Another company called Wearablex has created yoga pants that use vibrations to improve posture through a smartphone application.
Despite all of the promising breakthroughs in the area of robotic textiles, there are still many challenges that designers and researchers alike face. Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, a professor of mechanical engineering at Yale University, believes it will be “challenging to make these clothes, filled with fibers and technology, durable enough to withstand multiple cycles in the laundry.”
This, paired with the added weight and size of robots in clothing could make apparel uncomfortable, another obstacle engineers will face in the process of designing such clothing. However, hopes are high for the future, and we may soon be accompanied by robotic implementations through the medium of clothing.
These advancements were inspired by a clay-animated movie The Wrong Trousers, in which people were able to walk on walls and ceilings using futuristic pants. This directly led to the creation of “The Right Trousers” in England, which featured sets of electrical pumps sewn into the pants to expand tiny tubes that would aid elderly or disabled individuals with issues such as standing up and improving blood circulation.
In other institutions around the world, researchers have also been progressing in creating robotic textile fibers. For example, scientists at MIT fabricated computer-programmable threads and fiber batteries that could be embedded into clothing. MIT has announced that it is beginning to develop smart clothes for soldiers and spies, an event that is “very, very exciting” for Yoel Fink, a materials science professor at the university.
Google has also partnered with brands such as Adidas and Levi’s through the Jacquard project to put sensors in clothing, shoes, and backpacks, allowing for one’s accessories to serve as technology through sleeves that can change music to instant access to one’s phone. Another company called Wearablex has created yoga pants that use vibrations to improve posture through a smartphone application.
Despite all of the promising breakthroughs in the area of robotic textiles, there are still many challenges that designers and researchers alike face. Rebecca Kramer-Bottiglio, a professor of mechanical engineering at Yale University, believes it will be “challenging to make these clothes, filled with fibers and technology, durable enough to withstand multiple cycles in the laundry.”
This, paired with the added weight and size of robots in clothing could make apparel uncomfortable, another obstacle engineers will face in the process of designing such clothing. However, hopes are high for the future, and we may soon be accompanied by robotic implementations through the medium of clothing.
