New Fibers Could Make Garments Designed to Help Performers and Athletes Train Their Breathing
Researchers have developed a new kind of robotic fiber that can make breath-monitoring clothing.
Researchers from MIT and in Sweden have developed new fibers that can be made into clothing that senses how far it’s being stretched or compressed and can provide tactile feedback in the form of vibration, pressure, or lateral stretching. The team states the new fibers could be used to design garments to train performers and athletes to control their breathing or help patients recovering from surgery to regain their natural breathing patterns.
The multilayered OmniFibers feature a fluid channel inner core, which is activated by a fluidic system. The system controls the fibers’ geometry by pressurizing and releasing a fluid medium, such as compressed air or water, into the channel, which allows the fiber to act as an artificial muscle. The fibers are also equipped with stretchable sensors that can detect and measure the degree of stretching of the fibers. The resulting OmniFibers are thin and flexible enough to be sewn, woven, or knitted using standard commercial machines.
The researchers tested their new fibers by designing an undergarment singers can use to monitor and play back the movement of their respiratory muscles to provide kinesthetic feedback on optimal posture and breathing habits for the desired vocal performance. While initial testing focused on singing performance, the same approach can be made for other applications, such as a training tool for firefighters and meditators and even artists looking to control their breathing during brush strokes. Military snipers, deep-sea divers, and Olympic athletes could benefit as well. It will be interesting to see what can be done with the new OmniFibers beyond a breathing/diagnostic tool.