From sensitive fabrics to distributed wearable sensors

Our previous work has shown that elastic textiles covered with an epitaxial layer of conducting polymer show piezoresistive properties. They can be used to fabricate sensorized garments such as gloves, leotards, socks and seat covers as man-machine interfaces. A purposely designed screen printing process has been implemented to realize sensors/tracks patterns. Polypyrrole/lycra fabrics were prepared using the method developed by Milliken Co. (Spartanburg, USA). The epitaxial deposition is obtained controlling the concentrations of monomer and the temperature of the reaction medium. Investigation on mechanoelectric transduction properties (static and dynamic) of the fabrics, calibration of wearable sensing devices and ongoing R&D efforts in multimedia, sport and rehabilitation fields are reported.