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Over the past few decades, electronic engineers have developed increasingly flexible, multifunctional and high-performance equipment for a variety of practical applications. Some of their efforts aim to create smart and sensing textiles that can be used to produce elastic robotic systems, medical devices and wearable technology.
Researchers at Jiangnan University recently launched a new textile engineering method for the production of weaving and soft actuators for use in medical and health technology and robotic systems. Their proposed production strategy, outlined in a paper in Cell Reports Physical Science, is both scalable and easy to design, which may help its future large-scale adoption.
“Traditional methods such as 3D printing and elastomer casting cannot fully meet the adaptability and comfort needs of soft robots and wearable devices, especially in developing integrated devices that are not only flexible and functional, but also low-cost, easy to customize and scalable,” Dr. Sun Fengxin, the paper’s corresponding author, told Tech Xplore.
“Inspired by the ‘Yarn-to-Garment’ production method, we used dual-system knitting technology to seamlessly integrate sensing functions and driving modes into soft robotic ‘cloth’.”
The technique used by Sun and his colleagues arranges warp and weft yarns (used to transform threads into the two basic components of the fabric) into a clear planar layout during weaving. This means that it enables customization of the knitting actuator, which is achieved by carefully programming the yarn arrangement and composition.
“Our method enables personalized deformation and instant sensory feedback, making the woven actuator particularly effective for applications such as rehabilitation wearables,” Dr. Sun said. “The production of sensing yarns is very simple, similar to the production of knitted hairstyles. An industrial knitting machine is used to weave conductive yarns in a spiral pattern around the elastic core yarn, creating a current path.”
When the yarn used to weave the actuator is stretched, the path through which current can flow is closed due to the separation of the spiral of the conductive yarn. This structural change in turn affects the electrical signal flowing through the yarn, allowing strain to be detected.
“The sensing yarns we developed are directly integrated into the fabric of our weaving actuators,” Dr. Sun said. “Essentially, when the actuator moves, the resistance in the yarn changes, and this data can be used to understand the performance of the actuator.”
A unique feature of the sensing yarns produced using the team’s method is that they are fully woven into fabric. This means they do not add any weight, rigidity or volume to the textile, allowing the actuators to monitor their own movement without losing flexibility and adaptability.
“With the help of two-system weaving technology, we can customize the weaving pneumatic actuator so that it only inflates in the direction we expect, effectively solving the ‘balloon-like’ inflation problem faced by the software robot community,” Dr. Sun said.
“In addition, our weaving strategy provides a flexible and scalable solution for producing multi-deformation soft actuators, such as soft actuators that can perform bilateral bending, twisting and spiraling under a single air source by simply adjusting yarn tension, density and weaving structure.
The researchers demonstrated the feasibility of their yarn being used to develop a double-sided bending actuator that could be used as a soft robotic bucket. These grips can be used to mimic animal movements, such as copying the extension of octopus tentacles, pulling objects closer and grabbing them.
“These actuators also have practical applications in wearable rehabilitation equipment, where they can provide more precise and adaptive support for people with limited mobility,” Dr. Sun said. “The ability to program these actuators to mimic natural human movements means they can be used in a wide range of assistive technologies, making them more effective and comfortable for users.”
In the future, the textile engineering methods introduced by the research team could be used to produce various flexible components for use in medical devices and robotic systems. Dr. Sun and his colleagues plan to continue working on advancing the application of technology in textile production and designing alternative weaving and knitting strategies.
“Our goal is to develop textile actuators with higher output and a more controlled way of multi-functional movement,” Dr. Sun added. “We believe that improving the design of layered textile structures will address key challenges facing the soft robot community, such as balancing the flexibility and resilience of soft actuators.” This process could expand the potential applications of textile-based soft robots and have a greater impact on daily life.
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Original text:https://techxplore.com/news/2024-08-scalable-woven-actuators-possibilities-robotics.html
More information: Haoyun Li et al., Yarn grouping knitting soft robot with directional expansion, bilateral bending and self-perception functions for medical and health care, Cell Reports Physical Science (2024). DOI：10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102137
Journal information: Cell Reports Physical Science
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