The ability to arrange different types of fibres with predetermined spatial organisation gives us the colour, vibrancy and comfort encountered in traditional textiles. However, replacing conventional fibres with those that can conduct electricity can introduce the ability to monitor human movement using wearable garments, and even to store the energy required to power such a function.
A knitted textile based on the polymeric composite fibres, produced at the Australian National Fabrication Facility, is said to be highly sensitive, stable and able to detect a range of human movement.
The team demonstrated a working device with remote sensing capabilities using a knee sleeve prototype of the fabric that 'talks' to a commercial wireless receiver. These fibres are not only stretchable but also conduct electricity. This combination of properties allows the fibres to respond to body movement.
For energy storage the materials that make up a battery have been braided into appropriate arrangements to deliver energy storage capabilities.
ACES Director Gordon Wallace said: "These advances are made possible by the combination of skills that ARC Centres of Excellence bring together to tackle challenging areas.
"We are able to take fundamental advances in materials science and engineering and to realise wearable structures for use in sports training and rehabilitation applications."