SOFTWEAR is a highly interdisciplinary DN in the emerging and rapidly growing field of wearables, with a unique focus on soft actuators for wearables and exoskeletons. The primary objective of SOFTWEAR is to train young researchers in the multidisciplinary science of soft actuators for integration in wearables and augmenting textiles. This will be achieved by merging chemistry, physics, mechanics, electronics, textile technology, design, human-technology interaction and ethics in a truly interdisciplinary manner, while teaching essential skills in ethics, product development, IPR and industrial realisation, thus providing a unique added value to the careers of the Researchers. This ambitious aim will be accomplished by on-the-job training on innovative research projects developing beyond-the-state-of-the-art soft actuator technology and integrating this into active garments and soft exoskeletons. This will be carried out at leading academic groups and by immersion in applied projects at the industrial partners. SOFTWEAR will thus provide Europe with highly educated researchers in the emerging field of wearables, focused on integrating actuation. This will put Europe in a world-leading position in this field and will supply European companies with a highly skilled workforce in soft actuators and advanced smart textiles.
Research and development in wearables to date is focused on sensing. Wearables for the consumer market have matured but are limited to smart watches or sensing of basic (bio-)signals. Hard exoskeletons are becoming more widely used, highlighting the need for softer, more wearable alternatives. The key missing element is mechanically active fabrics, “the next generation of smart textiles” that are today only in the early stages of development. Integrating soft actuators in textiles is a prerequisite to develop assistive devices. However, existing actuators and fabrication methods are not suited for integration in textile wearables, stalling the emerging need for soft mechanically active wearables.
SOFTWEAR will fill this gap by delivering beyond-state-of-the-art soft actuators for integration in textiles and wearables. SOFTWEAR will (1) develop new soft and silent actuation materials and technologies that can be shaped as fibres and yarns and that can be integrated in fabrics; (2) develop new fabrication methods of such soft actuators in textile wearables utilising the advantages of textile processing to achieve multifunctional integration and upscaling; and (3) develop ethical, social, and aesthetic design guidelines and explore new applications and forms of expression for wearable soft actuators. At the same time SOFTWEAR will provide high quality scientific and technical training by world-leading soft actuator labs and companies in Europe for the next generation of researchers and engineers trained in the multidisciplinary aspects of soft actuators for wearables: chemistry, physics, mechanics, electrical engineering, textile technology, design, sociology and ethics, as well as soft skills in ethics, commercialisation, intellectual property rights (IPR), and communication. The trained researchers will be key persons for developing products, processes and business that put Europe in the lead, generating new jobs, businesses, public income, and solve societal health care challenges.
