Rice University researchers have developed smart fabrics, also known as a wearable textile-based device, that can tell you where to go in real-time. The system consists of a belt and textile sleeves, both of which rely on fluidic signals to control the delivery of complex haptic cues, including sensations like vibration, tapping and squeezing.
A small, lightweight carbon dioxide tank attached to the belt sends the gas to airtight circuits incorporated in the heat-sealable textiles, causing quarter-sized pouches (six on each sleeve) to inflate with varying force and frequency. These pouches then served as cues for guiding a user on a mile-long route through the streets of Houston in an experiment. Future versions will be incorporated directly with navigational systems, so that the textiles making up the clothing can tell users where to go without needing a virtual assistant.
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Photo credit: Brandon Martin/Rice University
The belt incorporates a slimmed-down version of the electronic control system that might otherwise be required. In this case, we had twelve pouches across two sleeves progressively inflate to indicate one of four directions: forward, backward, left or right. So instead of requiring twelve electronic inputs, we embed that complexity into the sleeve and are able to use only four inputs — a reduction by two-thirds,” said Daniel Preston, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Rice.
