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Assignment

on

‘Smart Textiles’

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Dr. A Mukhopadhayay Neeraj Sharma

Deptt. Of Textile Technology 12210108

NIT, Jalandhar M.tech, 1st year

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CONTENT

Sr. no Topic page

1. Introduction 1

2. Smart textile an overview 2

2.1 Smart material 3

2.2 Functions of the smart material 5

3. Wearable electronic textile 7

3.1 Life shirt 8

3.2 Smart shirt 9

3.3 ECG Shirt 10

3.4 Musical jacket 11

3.5 Lab, E-broidery project 12

4 Conclusion 12

5. References 13

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Abstract

Smart textiles are those textiles that can change or adapt their properties according to

their environment. The definitions for smart textiles are broad and generally undefined

and the terms 'intelligent' and 'smart' textiles are often interchangeably used. They are

typically textiles that, like traditional textiles, are flexible and comfortable enough to be

worn (e.g. as full garments, part of a garment, clothing accessories, etc.), but that also

have specific functional properties. The present paper attempts to assess the field of

smart and intelligent textiles and provide an overview of the definitions, properties,

products and end uses associated with common smart functional materials used in the

creation of smart textiles.

In smart textiles and clothing can be described as textile that are able to sense stimuli

from the environment, to reach to them and adapt to them by integration of

functionalities in the textile structure [1,2]. the functionality of smart textile varies with e

level of integration and method of integration.

1. INTRODUCTION

Clothing is an environment that we need and use every day. Clothing is special because it is

personal, comfortable, close to the body, and used almost anywhere at much time. Smart

clothing is a “smart system” capable of sensing and communicating with environmental and

the wearer‟s conditions and stimuli. Stimuli and responses can be in electrical, thermal,

mechanical, chemical, magnetic, or other forms. [3]These conditions or stimuli may be in the

form of force, temperature, radiation, chemical reactions, electric and magnetic fields.

Sensors in the outer layer detect these effects, and the resulting information is conveyed for

signal processing and interpretation, at which point the cell reacts to these environmental

conditions or stimuli in a number of ways, such as movement, changing chemical

composition and reproductive actions. Nature has had billions of years and a vast laboratory

to develop life, whereas humankind has just begun to create smart materials and structures

[4]. Smart clothing differs from wearable computing in that smart clothing emphasizes the

importance of clothing while it possesses sensing and communication capabilities. Wearable

computers use conventional technology to connect available electronics and attach them to

clothing. The functional components are still bulky and rigid portable machines and remain

as non-textile materials. While constant efforts have been made toward miniaturization of

electronic components for wearable electronics, true “smart clothing” requires full textile

materials for all components. People prefer to wear textiles since they are more flexible,

comfortable, lightweight, robust, and washable. To be a comfortable part of the clothing ,it is

necessary to embed electronic functions in textiles so that both electronic functionality and

textile characteristics are retained. Smart clothing should be easy to maintain and use, and

washable like ordinary textiles. Therefore, combining wearable technology and

clothing/textile science is essential to achieve smart clothing for real wear ability [5].

2. SMART TEXTILES: AN OVERVIEW

Smart materials and structures can be defined as the materials and structures that sense and

react to environmental conditions or stimuli, such as those from mechanical, thermal,

chemical, electrical, magnetic or other sources. According to the manner of reaction, they can

be divided into passive smart, active smart and very smart materials. Passive smart materials

can only sense the environmental conditions or stimuli; active smart materials will sense and

react to the conditions or stimuli; very smart materials can sense, react and adapt themselves

accordingly. An even higher level of intelligence can be achieved from those intelligent

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materials and structures capable of responding or activated to perform a function in a manual

or pre-programmed manner.[6]

Figure 1. Figure showing functions and advantages of Smart/Engineered materials

Three components may be present in such materials: sensors, actuators and controlling units.

The sensors provide a nerve system to detect signals, thus in a passive smart material, the

existence of sensors is essential. The actuators act upon the detected signal either directly or

from a central control unit; together with the sensors, they are the essential element for active

smart materials. At even higher levels, like very smart or intelligent materials, another kind of

unit is essential, which works like the brain, with cognition, reasoning and activating

capacities. Such textile materials and structures are becoming possible as the result of a

successful marriage of traditional textiles/clothing technology with material science,

structural mechanics, sensor and actuator technology, advanced processing technology,

communication, artificial intelligence, biology, etc. [7].

2.1 Smart materials

Smart materials can be classified in many different ways, for example depending on their

transforming function: property change capability, energy change capability, discrete

size/location or reversibility. Smart materials can also be classified depending on their

behavior and function as passive smart, active smart or very smart[10]. Another way of

classifying them is to look at the role they could have in a smart structure, as sensors or

actuators. Smart textiles can be divided in to four types based on their functions.

1. Passive smart materials are materials or systems which only sense the environmental

conditions or stimuli. They are just sensors. They show up what happened on them, Such as

changing color, shape, thermal and electrical resistivity. These kinds of textile materials are

more or less comparable with high functional and performance textiles. Micro fibers are Very

passive, waterproof; but at the same time permeable to water vapor.

2. Active smart materials are materials and system that can both sense and respond to the

external conditions or stimuli. Their prior functions are sensing and giving reaction to the

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stimuli. This shows they are both sensors as well as actuators to the environmental

conditions.

3. Very smart materials are materials and systems which can execute triple functions; First,

they are sensors which can receive stimuli from the environment; Secondly they are able to

give reaction based on the stimuli; Thirdly they can adapt and reshape themselves

accordingly to the environmental condition. We can compare this system with the animal

chameleon; Chameleon has a nature of taking the color of the surrounding then react by

changing the skin color of itself to the color of the surrounding and adapts to protect itself

from the predators.

4. Materials with even higher level of intelligence develop artificial intelligence to the

computers. These kinds of materials and systems are not fully achieved in the current

investigation of human beings. This may be achieved from the coordination of those Very

smart (intelligent) materials and structures with advanced computer interface.Intelligent

textiles are frequently based on smart materials that are transformed into the shape of a fibre,

yarn and/or textile structure (woven, nonwoven or knitted) [7][8] [9]. Intelligent textiles are

fibres and fabrics with a significant and reproducible automatic change of properties due to

defined environmental influences. Other textiles that are more passive can be called high

performance textiles. Microfibres are very passive, but waterproof, but at the same time

permeable to water vapour.

Figure 2. Microfibers

Wearable Computing is different form smart clothing. Wearable computing is used for

everything you wear that has some element of electronics. Smart can be interpreted as either

clever or as fashionable/chic. Some say that smart clothing can be a combination of both

meanings. The most typical way is to put electronic devices, like mobiles and MD players,

into pockets. This should be called an intelligent solution, but never intelligent textiles when

it is not including textile which themselves are defined as intelligent. But it is still wearable

computing. Intelligent textiles can be divided into these groups [11]:

Phase Change Material

Shape Memory Materials

Chromic Materials

Other intelligent fabrics

Electronic/Conductive textiles

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Figure 3. External stimuli energies and their corresponding chromic name.

Figure 4. The six functions of a smart textile system.

2.2 Functions of smart textiles

Basically, 5 functions can be distinguished in an intelligent suit, namely:

Sensors

Data processing

Actuators

Storage

Communication

They all have a clear role, although not all intelligent suits will contain all functions. The

functions may be quite apparent, or may be an intrinsic property of the material or structure.

They all require appropriate materials and structures, and they must be compatible with

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the function of clothing: comfortable, durable, resistant to regular textile maintenance

processes and so on [11].

Figure 4. Working of Smart Textiles

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3. WEARABLE SYSTEMS – ELECTRONIC TEXTILES

A wearable system that provide several functions:-

sensor unit: registration of biometric and environmental data and of user commands

network unit: transmission of data within the wearable computer and to external

networks

processing unit: calculating, analyzing and storing data

power unit: supplying energy

actuator unit: adapting to situations, creating an effect on the user, displaying

Figure 5. The vision for interactive textiles (“i-textiles”), embodying the paradigm of

“the fabric is the computer.”

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Figure 6. Systemization of wearable electronic systems

A totally new generation of garments has been created with the incorporation of information

and communication technology (ICT) into the clothing. The extremely rapid development in

sensor technology and ICT has brought miniaturized and efficient devices to the market,

which makes it possible to use the clothing as a platform for measuring a variety of

biophysical and other metrics or even actuating movements. These so-called wearable

computers have been defined as devices that meet at least the following criteria: [12] .

The hardware device must contain a central processing unit (CPU).

The device is able to run user-defined software applications.

The system is supported by (worn on) the user's body enabling a greater hands-free

computing and/or non-invasive bio monitoring functionality.

The computer should always be accessible and ready to interact with the wearer,

either through the use of a wire line and/or by wireless communication.

Applications of wearable technology can be found not only in garments but also in belts,

glasses, shoes and other clothing accessories as well as in implants. And the functions can be

manifold: biophysical monitoring (heart rate, ECG, temperatures, moisture, etc.), amusement

(music, games), positioning (GPS), motion monitoring or muscle actuation, communication,

etc. Many technical questions, such as power supply to the system, interfacing, signal

transmission, care and durability properties, and general usability, have to be considered at

the development stage. Although the real commercial breakthrough of wearable technology

products has yet to happen, there are published reports of several interesting prototypes for

different user groups. A couple of examples can be mentioned:

3.1 The LifeShirtTM

by the US company Vivo metrics has been developed for a

simultaneous monitoring of several physiological signals and patients' reports of

symptoms and well-being. It consists of three parts: a garment, a data recorder and

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analysis software. Sensors in the garment continuously monitor respiration,

electrocardiogram (ECG), activity and posture, and the data are analysed and visually

displayed. The system has been extensively tested, also in extreme conditions such as

air force pilot testing at 7.5 G, mountaineering at 4,500m altitude, motor racing and

long-haul trailer truck driving, and it is said to be reliable, comfortable and user-

friendly. It has been approved according to different standards.

3.2 Smart Shirt is intended for monitoring the physical condition of the wearer. The base

fabric provides the necessary physical infrastructure for the Smart Shirt and is made

from typical textile fibers (e.g., cotton, polyester, blends; woven, knitted, nonwoven,

etc.); the choice of fibers is dictated by the intended application. The developed

interconnection technology has been used to create a flexible and wearable framework

to plug in sensors for monitoring a variety of vital signs including heart rate,

respiration rate, and electrocardiogram (EKG), body temperature, and pulse oximetry,

which is a measure of the percentage of hemoglobin saturated by oxygen. In addition,

by plugging a microphone into the Smart Shirt, voice can be recorded. These sensors

can be positioned in desired locations on the body and plugged into the Smart Shirt.

The flexible data bus integrated into the structure transmits the information from the

suite of sensors to the multifunction processor known as the Smart Shirt Controller.

This controller, in turn, processes the signals and transmits them wirelessly (using an

appropriate communication protocol such as Bluetooth/ 802.11b) to desired locations

such as a doctor‟s office, a hospital, or a battlefield triage station. The bus also

transmits electrical signals, thermal energy, and sound to the sensors (and hence, the

wearer) from external sources, thus making the Smart Shirt a valuable interactive

information infrastructure [13].

Figure 7. Smart shirt and its working

The motherboard, or “plug-and-play,” concept means that other sensors can be easily

integrated into the structure. For instance, a sensor to detect oxygen levels or hazardous

gases can be integrated into a variation of the Smart Shirt that can be used by firefighters.

This information, along with vital signs, can be transmitted to the command center or fire

station where personnel can continuously monitor the firefighter‟s condition and provide

appropriate instructions, including ordering the individual to evacuate the scene, if

necessary [13].

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3.3 ECG shirt

The development of wearable monitoring systems is already having an effect on

healthcare in the form of “Telemedicine”. “The integration of high-technology into

textiles, e.g. modern communication or monitoring systems or the development of new

materials with new functions, has just started with timidity, but the branch already

propagates an enormous boom for this sector Personalized Health care The concept of

personalized healthcare empowers the individual with the management and assessment of

their own healthcare needs. Wearable devices allow physiological signals to be

continuously monitored during normal daily activities. This can overcome the problem of

infrequent clinical visits that can only provide a brief window into the physiological

status of the patient. Smart clothing serves an important role in remote monitoring of

chronically ill patients or those undergoing rehabilitation. It also promotes the concept of

preventative healthcare. Given the current world demographics there is a need to shift the

focus of healthcare delivery from treatment to prevention and also to promote wellness

monitoring rather than diagnosis of illness. SFIT for personal health monitoring, "so

called" intelligent biomedical clothing was initiated in the early. It is one of the most

important applications for SFIT wearable systems. The first promising results

(prototypes) have been achieved by few research teams in Europe and USA, following the

"application pull" approach. These prototypes incorporate mainly electrocardiogram and

respiration monitoring (and accessorily other physiological and physical parameters

depending on the targeted applications) by implementing strain fabric sensors and fabric

electrodes. Representative examples are e.g.:

o Wireless-enabled garment with embedded textile sensors for simultaneous acquisition and

continuous Monitoring of ECG, respiration, EMG, and physical activity. The “smart

cloth” embeds a strain fabric sensor based on piezo resistive yarns and fabric electrodes

realized with metal based yarns.

o Sensitized vest including fully woven textile sensors for ECG and respiratory frequency

detection and a Portable electronic board for motion assessment, signal pre-processing,

and Bluetooth connection for data Transmission.

o Wearable sensitized garment that measures human heart rhythm and respiration using a

three lead ECG shirt. The conductive fiber grid and sensors are fully integrated (knitted)

in the garment (Smart Shirt).

Figure 8. shirt for measuring rehabilitation

The Smart Wear Research Center, developed textile-based ECG electrodes using

embroidery. Stainless steel yarns were used to embroider electrodes the embroidered

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electrodes were attached to knitted shirts with spandex content from 0% to 7% to

examine the effect of fabric elasticity on ECG monitoring and on wearer‟s comfort

[14].

Figure 9. ECG shirt with embroidered electrodes

3.4 The Musical Jacket, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Media Laboratory from a Levi‟s denim jacket, incorporates an embroidered fabric keypad

with conducting fibers, a sewn conducting-fabric bus, a battery pack, a pair of commercial

speakers, and a miniature MIDI synthesizer pin.6 When the fabric keypad is touched, it

communicates through the fabric bus to the MIDI synthesizer, which generates notes. The

synthesizer sends audio to the speakers over the fabric bus, made from stainless steel

conductive fibers. The embroidered keypad and fabric bus allow the elimination of most of

the wires, connectors, and plastic inserts that would make the jacket stiff, heavy, and

uncomfortable. It allows a wearer with very little musical experience to play not only

different individual notes, but also to manipulate and control entire rhythmic tunes.[15]

3.5 MIT Media Lab, E-broidery project [16]:

Conductor lines were realized by embroidering metal fibers or weaving silk threads that were

wrapped in thin copper foil. The main drawback was the need for protection against shorting

and corrosion, as the conductive fibers are not insulated .

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Figure 10. E-broidery project MIT Media Lab,

4. CONCLUSION

A number of researches and developments conducted in areas such as advanced materials,

polymers, micro-electronics, computers and information technology. These are all done for

the development and advancement of new materials and better communication. Textiles are

also changing day by day. The hybridization of textiles and electronics brought changes in

the interactive textiles. The developing field of smart textiles could show a lot of new things

in all its applications. It has importance for medicine and healthcare, protective clothing„s, in

the casual clothing„s and lifesaving products.

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5. REFERNCE

1. Lieva Van Langenhove., and Carla Herleer ,2004, “smart clothing: A New Life”

International journal of clothing Science and technology, PP. 63-72.

2. Lan Po Tang S and Stylio G K, 2006, “An overview of smart technologies for

clothing design and engineering”, International Journal of cothing science and

technology, pp. 108

3. Gilsoo Cho, Smart Clothing: Technology and Applications, CRC press, PP. 2-5.

4. X.Tao (ed.), Smart Fibres, Fabrics and Clothing, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge,

2001.

5. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20100042366_2010045164.pdf

accessed on 28/5/2013

6. Dr T Ramachandran, The Indian Textile Journal December 2008 issue LINK

http://www.indiantextilejournal.com accessed on 28/5/2013

7. L Shanmugasundaram, Smart & intelligent textiles, The Indian Textile Journal

February 2008 issue LINK http://www.indiantextilejournal.com accessed on

28/5/2013

8. Electronic Textiles: A new generation textiles, R. Kholiya & S. Jahan,pp. 67-71.

9. X M Tao (ed.), Wearable electronics and photonics, Woodhead publishing,

Cambridge, 2005

10. Henock Hunde Dadi , Literature over view of Smart textiles, University of Borås

LINK http://bada.hb.se accessed on 29/05/2013

11. Carl André Nørstebø, Intelligent Textiles, Soft Products,LINK

http://faculty.mu.edu.sa accessed on 29/05/2013.

12. E.R Post, Smart Fabric, or “Wearable Clothing”, www.lizarum.com as accessed on 18

Oct 2012.

13. S.Park and S.Jayaraman, Smart Textiles:Wearable Electronic Systems, pp. 585-590

14. Gilsoo Cho, Smart Clothing: Technology and Applications, PP. 5-6

15. Sungmee Park and Sundaresan Jayaraman, Smart Textiles: Wearable Electronic

Systems , MRS BULLETIN/AUGUST 2003, pp 505-507

16. CA Nørstebø , Intelligent Textiles, Soft Products, Norwegian University of Science

and Technology,PP 580-590

17. S WAGNER, Electrotextiles: Concepts and challenges, www.princeton.edu accessed

on 30/5/2013 LINK