I + D / Textiles inteligentes y soluciones TIC 

E-BRODER II – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF SMART TEXTILES USING EMBROIDERY TECHNOLOGY 

Year: 2019

MOTIVATION

The use of the new Information Technologies and Industry 4.0 in the Textile and Clothing sector is on the increase however, despite this there are still some barriers to wearables and smart textiles gaining a stronger foothold in the market. The use of automated manufacturing of smart textiles not widespread, making this factor one of the main barriers. 

This project aims to address this by using embroidery technology to manufacture smart textiles and embed sensors, actuators, interconnection and energy circuits in all types of fabrics, as well as the development of new technical textile structures with high added-value factors. 

There are now wearable electronic systems available that offer new functionalities for our daily lives. However, the integration of sensors into textiles, applicable both to the user’s own clothing and to other elements of the environment, is at a much lower level of development. The miniaturisation of electronic components and wireless communication enables the design of small and easy-to-hide sensors into textile articles, but as regards integration into the fabric itself, only proof-of-concept work has been carried out. 

OBJECTIVES

A smart environment (home automation) is one that is able to acquire and apply knowledge about its inhabitants and their surroundings to adapt to them. This definition presupposes not only the ability to collect information about the environment and its inhabitants and to act on prevailing conditions, but also the capacity of the environment to infer adequate operating strategies based on observation and knowledge of the preferences of the inhabitants. 

Research in home automation focuses on improving the quality of life of users with the integrated use of various technologies to provide new services and improve those already used. 

It is not about filling our house with new devices, but rather that those we already use are smarter and easier to use and that intelligence and communication adapt to our needs enabling us to perform daily tasks more easily. Home automation must be friendly, easy to use, install and maintain, ubiquitous, but discreet and respectful of our privacy. 

The main objective of the E-BRODER project is to carry out research aimed at developing smart textiles with high added-value factors using embroidery technology for home automation applications intended for use in the following textile sub-sectors: home textiles, upholstery, decoration and contract. 

To do this, there are three clearly defined but complementary lines of research: 

• Research and development of wireless energy transmission systems using embroidered conducting circuits. 
• Research and development of advanced multilayer touch sensors integrated into textiles through conventional embroidery technology. 

• Research and development of sequins that incorporate advanced environmental sensors in order to greatly automate the development of smart textiles. 

EXPECTED RESULTS

The e-BRODER projects includes R+D of smart textiles using embroidery technology for home automation applications. 

During the second year, research will continue into the three lines mentioned above in order to achieve results with greater benefits. The results expected this year are: 

• Home textileswith the ability to acquire advanced environmental parameters from the space they are installed in such as gases, atmospheric pressure, air quality and noise. 
• Textiles with embedded advanced touch and multilayer pressure sensors for the home with the ability to detect gestures and pressure.
• Textileswith embedded induction elements embroidered with conductive yarn to provide wireless energy and which can charge several electronic devices at the same time and at greater distances. 

The project will develop a home/office automation system that will detect environmental parameters and act accordingly. The system will have the capacity to: 

• Turn heating or AC on or off
• Turn humidifiers and otherappliances on or off 
• Turn lights on or off
• Raise or lower automatic blinds

The result will be a prototype, manufactured on an automated production line, with embedded sensors that manufacturers in the sectors of home textiles, decoration, upholstery and contract furnishing to broaden product ranges and remain competitive. 

This project is funded by the Conselleria d’Economia Sostenible, Sectors Productius, Comerç i Treball de la Generalitat Valenciana, through IVACE, and is co funded by ERDF from the European Commission within the framework of the Operational Programme FEDER for the Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020.

GRANT NUMBER: IMDEEA/2019/57
AMOUNT: 151.543,06€

Additional information

• Year: 2019

• Status: Finished

• Entity: IVACE

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