Smart Textiles Use Acoustic Waves

Researchers at ETH Zurich developed smart textiles that rely on acoustic waves passed through glass fibers. This makes the measurements more precise and the textiles lighter, more breathable, and easier to wash. The researchers have woven glass fibers into the fabric at regular intervals. At one end of each glass fiber is a small transmitter that emits sound waves. The other end of each of the glass fibers is connected to a receiver that measures whether the waves have changed.

Each transmitter works at a different frequency. This means it requires little computing power to determine which fiber the sound waves have changed on. Previous smart textiles often struggled with data overload and signal processing issues, since each sensor location had to be evaluated individually. When a glass fiber moves, the length of the acoustic waves passing through it changes, as they lose energy. In the case of a T-shirt, this can be caused by body movement or even breathing.

More information:

https://www.futurity.org/smart-fabric-sound-glass-fibers-3282452

Powering Smart Textiles via Human Body

Researchers in China created fibre-based electronics that harness electromagnetic energy in the atmosphere, using the human body as part of the circuit. This makes a body-coupled fibre electronic technology that does not need electronic chips or batteries to work. When electromagnetic energy travels through the fibre, it is converted by fibres into other forms of energy, including visible light and radio waves. So, the fibre emits electric signals when touched by a human body. By controlling various aspects of the system, such as the area of fibre in contact with the body or the diameter of the fibres, these wireless signals can be programmed.

The team say the approach removes a key challenge faced when attempting to incorporate electronic systems into textiles: the need for rigid components. Among the prototypes developed by the team is a wearable fabric display coupled to a fabric keyboard – which the team say could be used by people who have a hearing impairment to help them communicate with others – and textile controllers for video games. They also created a wireless haptic carpet that glows underfoot which not only provides a form of emergency lighting at night but can also wirelessly transmit signals that can be used to control switches on appliances in the home, such as lights.

More information:

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/apr/04/wearable-tech-how-the-human-body-can-help-power-the-future-of-smart-textiles