3D-Printed Active Fabric for Medical and Soft Robotics Apps
Above Left: A prototype RoboFabric helmet which can be flat-packed and stored or stiffened through the use of electric-heated springs. Above Right: Close up of the elbow support made using RoboFabric, which can be made flexible or stiff on demand. CREDIT: NTU Singapore
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, developed a flexible wearable fabric that can stiffen on demand. Using geometric design, 3D printing, and robotic control, RoboFabric can be made into medical devices or soft robotics. Their findings were published in the scientific journal Advanced Materials.
The team developed an elbow support enabling people to carry heavier loads and a wrist support prototype to stabilize joints for daily activities and help Parkinson’s Disease patients with trembling.
Inspired by Pangolins’ and Armadillos’ interlocking scales, the scientists 3D-printed tiles, which they joined with metal fibers running through tiny channels or by an external soft case, requiring negative air pressure or vacuum to be applied constantly. When the fibers contract, the tiles interlock and stiffen, increasing rigidity by more than 350x for additional strength and stability. Results showed that the device could reduce human muscle activity by up to 40% when lifting loads.
To customize a joint support, a 3D scan of a wrist or the elbow is uploaded to the software. An algorithm then dissects the resulting 3D model into dozens of geometric tiles that can be 3D printed in approximately an hour. The fibers are then threaded through the holes between the tiles and connected to an electric device that can tighten or loosen the cables. Although threading is currently done by hand, the team says it can be automated in the future.
CREDIT: NTU Singapore
In their latest research paper, published in Science Robotics, the team demonstrates a tiny robot made of thin wave-shaped tiles sealed in an elastic envelope. When a vacuum is applied, the fabric transitions to its designated shape and becomes stiff, and when the vacuum pressure is removed, it relaxes into a soft state. This allows the small robot to climb like a worm or swim in the water, carrying small loads or protecting fragile assets by forming a rigid shell around them.
The team is exploring collaborations with industry partners for deployment trials in the healthcare and robotics sectors.
