Functional Fibers and Fabrics for Soft Robotics, Wearables, and Human–Robot Interface

• Published in: Advanced materials (Weinheim) Vol. 33; no. 19; pp. e2002640 - n/a
• Main Authors: Xiong, Jiaqing, Chen, Jian, Lee, Pooi See
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Actuators; Artificial muscles; Automation; Electronic components; Energy harvesting; Fabrics; Fibers; fibers/fabrics; Human motion; Manufacturing engineering; Materials science; power sources; Review; Reviews; Robot dynamics; Robotics; Robots; sensors; Skin; Soft robotics; Stimuli; Wearable technology; power sources; actuators; sensors; fibers/fabrics; soft robotics
• ISSN: 0935-9648; 1521-4095; 1521-4095
• DOI: 10.1002/adma.202002640

Soft robotics inspired by the movement of living organisms, with excellent adaptability and accuracy for accomplishing tasks, are highly desirable for efficient operations and safe interactions with human. With the emerging wearable electronics, higher tactility and skin affinity are pursued for safe and user‐friendly human–robot interactions. Fabrics interlocked by fibers perform traditional static functions such as warming, protection, and fashion. Recently, dynamic fibers and fabrics are favorable to deliver active stimulus responses such as sensing and actuating abilities for soft‐robots and wearables. First, the responsive mechanisms of fiber/fabric actuators and their performances under various external stimuli are reviewed. Fiber/yarn‐based artificial muscles for soft‐robots manipulation and assistance in human motion are discussed, as well as smart clothes for improving human perception. Second, the geometric designs, fabrications, mechanisms, and functions of fibers/fabrics for sensing and energy harvesting from the human body and environments are summarized. Effective integration between the electronic components with garments, human skin, and living organisms is illustrated, presenting multifunctional platforms with self‐powered potential for human–robot interactions and biomedicine. Lastly, the relationships between robotic/wearable fibers/fabrics and the external stimuli, together with the challenges and possible routes for revolutionizing the robotic fibers/fabrics and wearables in this new era are proposed. A relation map of dynamic fibers/fabrics with responsive functions, including actuation, sensing, and energy harvesting, is built for potential construction of a soft, safe, user‐friendly human–robot interface. It promises the seamless integration between actuators, sensors, and power sources into fibers/fabrics, envisaging self‐regulated, autonomous, and intelligent robotic fibers/fabrics for daily functions and biomedical services.