5. E-textiles

Research & Ideation

Inspiration: Artists and Projects

Objective:

Research on artists and projects utilizing E-textiles and soft sensors in fashion and textiles, focusing on how electronics are embedded into fabrics to create interactive, responsive garments or installations.

E-textiles and Smart Fabrics:

Ebru Kurbak:

An artist and researcher working with electronic textiles, Kurbak's work explores the intersection of technology and craft. She often uses soft, flexible materials, like conductive thread, to create interactive textiles that respond to touch, pressure, or sound. Her pieces highlight the invisible, often unseen, connection between craftwork and technology. Picture reference: Ebru Kurbak project

Kobakant:

A collaborative project founded by Mika Satomi and Hannah Perner-Wilson, Kobakant explores the integration of electronic textiles and wearable technology. Their work emphasizes handmade, DIY approaches to embedding sensors and actuators into fabrics, allowing for interactive garments and installations. Their explorations range from touch-sensitive clothing to soft sound-producing textiles.

Picture reference: Kobakant project

Syuzi Pakhchyan:

A pioneer in the wearable tech space, she combines fashion and electronics to create interactive garments. Her designs feature sensors and actuators embedded within fabrics to enhance the sensory experience of fashion.

Technologies in E-textiles::

Conductive Threads and Fabrics:

Conductive materials, like silver-coated threads, are used in E-textiles to transmit electrical signals throughout the garment, allowing for responsive interaction and embedded electronics. These threads enable the creation of circuits within fabric, making textiles functional and interactive. Picture reference: Conductive thread in action

Flexible Sensors:

Sensors woven into fabric allow garments to detect environmental changes or user input. For instance, pressure sensors can be used to monitor body movements or heart rate, while temperature sensors adjust the warmth of clothing based on outside conditions. Picture reference: Smart fabric with sensors

Wearable Microcontrollers:

Microcontrollers like Arduino or Lilypad are integrated into E-textiles to manage the input from sensors and produce corresponding outputs, such as lighting up LEDs or generating sound based on user activity.

Picture reference: Arduino in wearables

Relevant Projects:

Project Jacquard by Google: A collaborative project between Google and Levi's that integrates touch-sensitive panels into fabric. This technology allows users to control smartphones or other devices by touching specific areas on their garments. Picture reference: Google Jacquard jacket

CuteCircuit:

A fashion label that uses E-textiles to create garments with embedded LEDs and smart fabrics that change color or pattern based on user input. Their collections demonstrate the artistic and commercial potential of E-textiles in the fashion industry.

Picture reference: CuteCircuit's LED dress

Soft circuits :

Soft circuits are flexible, conductive materials used to create electronic circuits in textiles or soft materials. Unlike traditional circuits, they integrate components like conductive threads, fabrics, or inks, allowing them to bend, stretch, and move without breaking.

Sensors :

Sensors in soft circuits detect environmental changes such as temperature, pressure, or motion. They convert these changes into electrical signals, which can be processed to trigger actions or feedback. Soft sensors are often used in wearable technology, smart textiles, and interactive fashion, enabling devices to respond to the user or environment in real time.

Digital Soft Sensor

Conductive Thread Button Sensor: A digital soft sensor can be created using conductive thread stitched into a garment to form a simple button. When the thread makes contact (like when the fabric is pressed or squeezed), it completes a circuit, sending a digital signal (either on or off, 1 or 0). This type of sensor is often used in wearable electronics to detect touch or pressure.

Analog Soft Sensor

Stretchable Fabric Sensor: An analog soft sensor can be made by using stretchable conductive fabrics or threads. For example, a stretch sensor made from conductive elastomer or fabric can detect the amount of stretch or deformation of the material. As the fabric is stretched, its resistance changes, and this variation in resistance can be read as an analog signal, giving a range of values (rather than just on/off). This type of sensor is useful in applications like detecting body movement or measuring strain in wearable devices.

Embedding electronics in fabrics

Embedding electronics in fabrics involves integrating electronic components like sensors, circuits, and microcontrollers directly into textiles. This can be done by using conductive materials such as conductive threads or fabrics, which can be sewn or woven into garments to create soft circuits. Components like LEDs, batteries, or microcontrollers are attached to the fabric either by sewing, adhering, or embedding them during the manufacturing process.

Soft-hard connection

Soft-hard connections refer to the challenge of linking soft, flexible textile components with rigid electronics. To achieve reliable connections between the two, techniques like using snap buttons, conductive Velcro, flexible PCBs, or connector sockets are often employed. These methods allow for durability and maintain electrical conductivity while enabling the fabric to retain its flexibility. Careful design ensures that the hard components do not hinder the wearability or functionality of the fabric, making them suitable for applications in wearable tech, smart clothing, and interactive textiles.

TOOLS :

1 LED

2 Batteries

3 Resistance

4 Jumper wires

5 Breadboard

6 Arduino IDE

7 Push button

8 Arduino nano board

9 cotton fabric

Exploring Analog Sensors with Arduino

Initially, I found working with an analog sensor a bit tricky. Recently, I experimented with adjusting the brightness of five LEDs using a variable resistor. This component functioned as a dimmer, regulating the current flowing through each LED. As I adjusted the resistor, I could observe real-time changes in the LEDs’ brightness, which helped me grasp how resistance influences electrical circuits. This project offered a deeper challenge than my earlier experiences with simple circuits, as it gave me the chance to explore more advanced concepts in both hardware and electronics.

A variable resistor, often called a potentiometer or rheostat, is a key component in electrical circuits that allows manual adjustment of resistance. By modifying resistance, it can control the flow of current to adjust outputs like LED brightness, motor speed, or even audio volume. Essentially, a variable resistor provides a way to fine-tune an electronic device’s behavior by altering the current flow, without the need to redesign the circuit itself. Below is some of the code I used to make the LEDs blink.

Using a Digital Sensor with Arduino

For my work with digital sensors, I chose to explore the DHT sensor, which is well-known for its accuracy in detecting both temperature and humidity. This sensor is a favorite among both beginners and professionals due to its ease of use and dependability. The DHT sensor communicates through a single-wire protocol, making it straightforward to connect with microcontrollers like the Arduino.

Initial Experiment

In my initial experiment, I aimed to construct a simple circuit incorporating LEDs, a power source, and a resistor. My objective was to grasp the fundamental principles of circuit assembly and observe how these elements function together. I started by collecting all required components, selecting a range of LEDs to test various colors and brightness intensities. Afterward, I connected the power source, adjusting the voltage to suit the LEDs' specifications to prevent any possible harm to them.

Here, I set up an electronic circuit on a fabric surface, experimenting with conductive connections and flexible integration. Using a breadboard, jumper wires, and an Arduino, I connected several wires across the fabric to simulate embedding electronics directly into textiles. This setup allowed me to observe how wiring behaves on a soft material and to test conductivity for potential wearable applications

I faced a few difficulties in establishing a reliable electrical connection and want to make sure there’s a solid link between the LED and the power source this time. Initially, I relied solely on conductive beads and thread, which functioned but had higher resistance than expected. To improve conductivity, I added conductive tape to the other side of the circuit, which enhanced the performance noticeably. In the final setup, I combined both beads and tape on each side and used a safety pin as a switch, creating a more stable and efficient circuit overall.

Here's the code I followed in my implementation, serving as a guide to bring my circuit design to life. It helped me understand how each component works together and allowed me to refine the setup for optimal performance. This code structure guided my connections, ensuring the LEDs responded accurately to the changes in the circuit.

Here are the results I achieved. This outcome reflects the adjustments I made throughout the project and highlights the progress I made in creating a more efficient and responsive circuit.