milano, june 25, 2013

riccardo marchesi

digital fabrics

sources: CISCO, Jim Cicconi, AT&T, Steve Leibson, Computer History Museum, CNN, University of Michigan, Fraunhofer

“These things are not just smart phones and

tablets”

internet of things

... ...internet

of fabrics

textile sensor interface ADC μ

physicalquantity IP

module

WAN

available 2013-2015 2013-2015 2015-2018 2016-2020

internet of fabrics

why fabrics?

they cover about 75% of our body

fabrics are everywhere in our homes (bed sheets, carpets, walls, sofas and chairs..

they represent the perfect place to embed sensors and electronics

how can fabrics help us?

sensing elements for rehabilitation

sensing elements for increased comfort

mapping floors for emergencies

posture control

sensing wetness

robotics

? (just use your imagination)

how can I do that?

electronics

www.arduino.cc

textile buttons

www.plugandwear.com

Touch sensitive fabric

• Knitted three-layered fabric, two conductive layers with a non-conductive layer in between • If pressed, the conductive

layers touch allowing current flow • Materials: acrylic yarn,

stainless steel

Pressure sensitive fabric

Characteristics Activation force 3.6 Kg per

50 mm diameter •• More then 1.000.000 cycles•• For a 15 cm x 20 cm switch

resistance when pressed: around 200 Ohm, open circuit when non pressed

textile push button electrical behaviour

theoretical behaviour

real behaviour

textile push button

digital

analog

Rtot

= Ru + R

c+ R

l ≈ C

Rtot

= Ru + R

c+ R

l ≠ C

water sensors

www.plugandwear.com

digital signalsHIGH and LOW levels

textile potentiometer

potentiometer = variable resistorcan be used for controlling sound or light

level, changing the frequency of a flashing LED

textile potentiometer electrical behaviour

theoretical behaviour real behaviour

analog pressure sensors

www.plugandwear.com

analog press button

sensitive layer

conductive side

conductive side

stretch sensors

www.plugandwear.com

reading an analog input

matrix pressure sensor

www.plugandwear.com

matrix pressure sensor

matrix pressure sensor

matrix pressure sensor

matrix pressure sensor

IROMEC – light emitting fabric

IROMEC – sensitive top cover

posture monitoring

rehabilitation

riccardo marchesi@plugandwear

www.plugandwear.com

thank you!