Periodic Reporting for period 1 - SOFTWEAR (SOFT actuators for Wearables, Exoskeletons, and Augmenting Robotics)
Okres sprawozdawczy: 2022-09-01 do 2024-08-31
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.
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.
Within the reporting period 1 (01/09/2022 – 31/08/2024), the SOFTWEAR project focused on the setting up organisation structure and management procedures (WP6) as well as dissemination and outreach infrastructure (WP5), the recruitment of the 10 (+2 from Switzerland) Researchers, and first training and scientific activities (WP1-WP4). With regards to the training, 3 of the 4 Training Schools (TS) have now been held and were all well appreciated. TS1 and TS2 were open for non-SOFTWEAR students and were both well attended.
An overview of the project results per WP:
WP1 New silicones and new synthesis routes have been developed. Solid-state actuators in a yarn format have been developed using coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns and made to operate in air using ionogel coatings. Conducting polymer-based yarn actuators have been optimized with respect to different fabrication parameters. Liquid-gas phase change actuators have been developed and various demonstrators of wearable applications have been showcased.
WP2 With regards to integration on fabrics ionic EAP actuators have been printed on various fabrics and pneumatic inverse McKibben actuators have been integrated on a stiff fabric support. Integration in fabrics has been achieved with phase change actuators and Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs with Electrostatic Clutches. In addition, a survey has been conducted on different fibre constructions, fabric weaves, knitting patterns and innovative textile designs for inherent actuation.
WP3 The integration of soft actuators with knitted wearable designs has been explored resulting in of a body of behaving knit samples and demos that react to touch. Research into the ethical and social perspective of Wearable Soft Actuators has taken shape through interviews with several experts in the field. In addition, an identification of applications of wearable soft actuators has been performed
WP4 Three Training Schools have been organized providing the Researchers with both the technical/scientific skills and the soft skills necessary for their PhD studies. In addition, the Researchers have been trained locally and individually to acquire the skills needed to fulfil their respective individual research projects.
WP5 A website, a YouTube channel, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter/X accounts have been set up at the start of the project. A plan for dissemination as well as exploitation and communication has been produced as planned. A workshop covering dissemination has been delivered in TS3.
WP6 is the management work package. Different committees have been established at the start of the project. A file server has been also set up and is used for collaboration and exchange of files and documents between the Partners including Researchers. The Executive Committee has monthly meetings to oversee the running and progress of the DN.
18 of 28 deliverables have been submitted. Five deliverables were slightly delayed due to issues with visa and therefore late arrival of some Researchers. D2.3 has been substantially delayed due to Researcher 7 resigning at HB. A new researcher is currently being recruited at HB.
12 of 18 milestones were achieved. One milestone was delayed due to problems with visa and late arrival of a researcher. M11 follows the delay of D2.3.
An overview of the project results per WP:
WP1 New silicones and new synthesis routes have been developed. Solid-state actuators in a yarn format have been developed using coiled carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns and made to operate in air using ionogel coatings. Conducting polymer-based yarn actuators have been optimized with respect to different fabrication parameters. Liquid-gas phase change actuators have been developed and various demonstrators of wearable applications have been showcased.
WP2 With regards to integration on fabrics ionic EAP actuators have been printed on various fabrics and pneumatic inverse McKibben actuators have been integrated on a stiff fabric support. Integration in fabrics has been achieved with phase change actuators and Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) springs with Electrostatic Clutches. In addition, a survey has been conducted on different fibre constructions, fabric weaves, knitting patterns and innovative textile designs for inherent actuation.
WP3 The integration of soft actuators with knitted wearable designs has been explored resulting in of a body of behaving knit samples and demos that react to touch. Research into the ethical and social perspective of Wearable Soft Actuators has taken shape through interviews with several experts in the field. In addition, an identification of applications of wearable soft actuators has been performed
WP4 Three Training Schools have been organized providing the Researchers with both the technical/scientific skills and the soft skills necessary for their PhD studies. In addition, the Researchers have been trained locally and individually to acquire the skills needed to fulfil their respective individual research projects.
WP5 A website, a YouTube channel, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter/X accounts have been set up at the start of the project. A plan for dissemination as well as exploitation and communication has been produced as planned. A workshop covering dissemination has been delivered in TS3.
WP6 is the management work package. Different committees have been established at the start of the project. A file server has been also set up and is used for collaboration and exchange of files and documents between the Partners including Researchers. The Executive Committee has monthly meetings to oversee the running and progress of the DN.
18 of 28 deliverables have been submitted. Five deliverables were slightly delayed due to issues with visa and therefore late arrival of some Researchers. D2.3 has been substantially delayed due to Researcher 7 resigning at HB. A new researcher is currently being recruited at HB.
12 of 18 milestones were achieved. One milestone was delayed due to problems with visa and late arrival of a researcher. M11 follows the delay of D2.3.
Although SOFTWEAR is still in the early stages and the Researchers have been working on their Individual Research Projects for only 12-18 months, depending on their starting date, considerable impacts have been made. SOFTWEAR Researchers have published four peer-reviewed journal publications on: “Clutchable Fabric Actuator for Energy Efficient Wearable Robots”; “Artificial muscle based on coiled CNT yarns and biofriendly ionogels”; “Comparative study of the influence of the ionic coatings on the performances of air-operating coiled carbon nanotubes yarn actuators” and “How to Easily Make Self-Sensing Pneumatic Inverse Artificial Muscles.” The researchers delivered 9 oral presentations and 11 poster presentations at various international conferences.