Smart Textiles: Smart Technology

Smart Technology

¨We are inspired to mimic nature in order to create clothing materials with higher levels of functions and smartness

¨Cloning silk fibres was a first step

¨Can the skin -a smart material- be mimicked?

¨The skin has sensors that can detect pressure, pain, ambient conditions,etc. and can intelligently function with environmental stimuli

Smart textiles are materials and structures that sense and react to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, magnetic or other sources.

Smart textiles are no longer a science-fiction fantasy. For example, there are in the market self-cleaning carpets, memory-shaped and environment-responsive textiles, and anti-insomniac micro-fibers.

According to the manner of reaction, smart textiles can be divided into:

§Passive smart materials, which can only sense the environmental condition or stimuli,

§Active smart materials, which sense and react to the condition or stimuli,

§Very smart materials, which can sense, react and adapt themselves accordingly, and

§Intelligent materials, which are those capable of responding or activated to perform a function in a manual or pre-programmed manner

¨How does a smart material work?

Figure 3. Diagram of a simulated smart technology.

The sensors provide a nerve system to detect signals

The processor analyzes and evaluates the signals

The actuators act upon the detected and evaluated signal either directly or from a central control unit

Areas of Research & Development

¨For sensors - actuators:

§photo-sensitive materials

§fibre optics

§conductive polymers

§thermal sensitive materials

§shape memory materials

§intelligent coating materials

§chemical responsive materials

§micro-capsules

§micro- and nano-materials

¨For signal transmission, processing and control:

§neural networks and control systems

§cognition theory and systems

¨

For integrated processes and products:

§wearable electronics and photonics

§adaptive and responsive structures

§bio-mimics

§tissue engineering

§chemical/drug releasing

© 2003 PCERF Modified on 10/04/2003
This web page is located @ http://www.ualberta.ca/~jag3/smart_textiles/

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	¨We are inspired to mimic nature in order to create clothing materials with higher levels of functions and smartness
	¨Cloning silk fibres was a first step
	¨Can the skin -a smart material- be mimicked?
	¨The skin has sensors that can detect pressure, pain, ambient conditions,etc. and can intelligently function with environmental stimuli

	§Passive smart materials, which can only sense the environmental condition or stimuli,
	§Active smart materials, which sense and react to the condition or stimuli,
	§Very smart materials, which can sense, react and adapt themselves accordingly, and
	§Intelligent materials, which are those capable of responding or activated to perform a function in a manual or pre-programmed manner

	The sensors provide a nerve system to detect signals
	The processor analyzes and evaluates the signals
	The actuators act upon the detected and evaluated signal either directly or from a central control unit

	§photo-sensitive materials
	§fibre optics
	§conductive polymers
	§thermal sensitive materials
	§shape memory materials
	§intelligent coating materials
	§chemical responsive materials
	§micro-capsules
	§micro- and nano-materials

	§neural networks and control systems
	§cognition theory and systems ¨

	§wearable electronics and photonics
	§adaptive and responsive structures
	§bio-mimics
	§tissue engineering
	§chemical/drug releasing