There’s the MIT-developed 3DKnITS, and then this innovative fully woven 46-inch smart display created by an international team of scientists. This display embeds active electronic, sensing, energy and photonic functions directly into the fibers as well as yarns, which are manufactured using textile-based industrial processes.
Since these specialized fibers can be integrated into textiles through conventional weaving or knitting processes means, this enables them to be incorporated into everyday objects. To make the technology compatible with weaving, each fiber component had to be coated with materials that can withstand enough stretching so they can be used on textile manufacturing equipment. Some of the fiber-based components were also braided to improve their reliability and durability before multiple fiber components were connected together using conductive adhesives as well as laser welding techniques.
By integrating fiber-based electronics, photonic, sensing and energy functionalities, we can achieve a whole new class of smart devices and systems. By unleashing the full potential of textile manufacturing, we could soon see smart and energy-autonomous Internet of Things devices that are seamlessly integrated into everyday objects and many other sector applications,” said Dr Luigi Occhipinti, co-leader of the research from Cambridge’s Department of Engineering.
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