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Innovation & Technologie Angebot

Knitted smart jacket with textile electronic pads and wireless remote control for working/protective clothes, healthcare, rehabilitation, therpeutic and game applications offered

Country of Origin: Germany
Reference Number: TODE20170315002
Publication Date: 20 March 2017

Summary

A small German company specialized in innovative knitwear has developed a washable smart jacket with textile electronic pads (e-pads) for wireless remote control. The e-pads allow the remote control of different smart home appliances. Further applications: working/protective clothes, healthcare, rehabilitation, therapeutic functions, games. Seeking partners from industry and applied research for joint product development and system integration with interest in technical cooperation agreements.

Description

Many people with restricted range of mobility have an urgent need for wearables helping them to overcome their handicaps. Particularly textile wearables are developed  worldwide opening up new markets also for SMEs in Europe. Supported by a regional smart textile cluster a small German knitting company has developed a knitted wearable – a knitted smart jacket with wireless textile remote control features. 



The technology is based on knitted textile pads (e-pads) enabling the wireless control of electrical devices up to distances of  max. 30 m. All textile elements are breathable, washable, can be draped/folded and have a comfortable haptic.

One e-pad can be equipped with up to 4 textile pads, including signal processing, transmitting unit and configuration electronics. Based on a 3D-knitting technology the pads can be integrated into the clothing. Single sleeve elements are also possible for specific applications. The electronic board and the battery have been moulded into a silicon matrix to ensure waterproofing, easy handling and washing in normal cycles. The use of large-area buttons makes handling and operation easier for people with restricted range of motion or similar handicaps.

The integrated e-pads allow the remote control of different smart home appliances. The existing prototype is able to operate different electronic devices and can slide drawers in furniture in smart homes.   

Further applications envisaged: specific working clothes, healthcare, therapy, rehabilitation, gaming, leisure activities, home textiles etc.



Technical expertise sought:   

- micro system technology/engineering providers for technical cooperation agreements

- industrial partners sought for technical cooperation:

- manufacturers of working/protective clothing

- manufacturers of medical/rehabilitation clothing and equipment

- manufacturers of adapted furniture and equipment

Advantages and Innovations

- washable

- breathable

- easy to handle and use

- configuration possible via Smartphone App: textile pads are allocated to the actuators (electrical consumers to be controlled)

- very low power consumption allows extremely small battery over several years 

- working life: 3 years!

- high cryptographic security: actuator recognizes user automatically!

- free from failures during washing and lying/wearing

Stage Of Development

Prototype available for demonstration

Requested partner

Seeking partners from industry and applied research for joint product development and system integration into smart home and smart environment solutions:  

- micro system technology and engineering providers dealing with smart home solutions, serious games etc. 

- manufacturers of working and/or protective clothing

- manufacturers of medical/rehabilitation clothing

- manufacturers of adapted furniture and equipment