University of Alberta researchers get $24 million for Batman-inspired smartwear

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University of Alberta researchers recently received federal funding for functional “smart” clothing that can change its shape and stiffness to help people with varying physical needs like muscle weakness, injuries, or other mobility challenges, but the inspiration comes from technology worn by the caped crusader himself: Batman.

The federal funds will go to the Institute for Smart Augmentative and Restorative Technologies and Health Innovations and Smart Technology Innovations (iSMART), which is working to develop the apparel. The project is led by Dr. Vivian Mushahwar, who is the principal investigator for the funding opportunity. Inspired by a comic book character of great strength and wealth, the goal of the project is to help people no matter what their strength, in functional forms and accessible materials.

What is the technology?

Primary technical co-investigator of the project, Dan Sameoto, explained that the technology revolves around making “smart” fibres.

Doing so involves 3D printing a preform made up of multiple materials that “can all be combined into a single, complex structure, and can then be drawn down using heat, just like taffy, and pulled into these exceptionally fine fibres.”

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“We’re able to have different functionality of each subsection of the fibres that would act either as an artificial muscle, stiffness switching actuator, sensor, possibly even batteries in the future, but these will provide us all the intelligence within the fabrics themselves,” said Sameoto.

The effect is having fibres throughout a piece of clothing that can be powered and used for various purposes to assist the wearer. He said the goal is to ensure the pieces are functional with low-voltage powering built into the clothing. Like, for example, a shirt button that also contains a battery to power the shirt, allowing its structure to change.

An exoskeleton is an easy way to imagine how the garment will function, but Dr. Mushahwar said the garment won’t be rigid like an exoskeleton and will actually predominantly be a normal fitting and feeling piece of clothing.

How does this relate to Batman?

The idea for the garment manipulation came to Sameoto from the first instalment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Batman Begins. As Batman or Bruce Wayne, played by Christian Bale, assembles his suit, he’s shown a piece of cloth that, when an electric current is applied, can change its stiffness.

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In the context of the movie, this eventually allows Batman to apply electricity to his cape, which transforms it into wings, allowing him to glide around Gotham fighting crime in the night.

While the smartwear will include electricity in the fibres, this application won’t include any flying.

What are the potential uses?

While the technology may eventually be used by more people, the intent of the current scope is to assist those who need supports for greater mobility, explained Dr. Mushahwar.

“There’s a big need for this because about 25 per cent of Canadians have musculoskeletal weakness. And right now, the interventions that are available are not as completely helpful for their needs,” said Dr. Mushahwar.

She also pointed out that Canada’s population is aging, with muscle weakness hitting people at various levels after the age of 65, which gives even more potential uses over time for this type of product and allowing Canadians more chances to age in place.

How this mobility aid will differ from others.

The project’s co-principal investigator, Danielle Peers, explained the products will be developed in consultation with their end users to ensure the pieces are functional in accommodate people’s lifestyles and goals.

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“We’re really building on the capacities and the dreams of the people who will use this product in the end. So we’re going to engage with the folks who are least well-served by existing technologies, and we get them together, and we’re going to find out what do they need in their lives,” said Peers.

“For me, I love my wheelchair. Take it around. Love it. It’s beautiful. It’s a $5,000 chair. I go to a friend’s house, I can’t get in and go see them, right? I go to the nature and I can’t go for a walk. And so it’s really good at what it does, but it doesn’t allow me to access the range of things I want to do in my life. So when I see this technology, this is something that means that I get to do all of these things I love,” said Peers.

Peers highlighted the shift in approach from Dr. Mushahwar as an asset to the project.

“We tend to always think about how we change bodies to make them more normal. And what I’ve loved about (Mushahwar’s) leadership is like no, no, why don’t we see what people want to do and what technology can give them that supports them in doing the things they want to do.”

When will the project create a product?

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“It’s a huge undertaking, but we are thinking that by the third-fourth year, we’ll have prototypes,” said Dr. Mushahwar.

Over the next three to four years, Mushahwar will be working with more than 60 researchers around the world with varying areas of expertise like fashion, disability advocacy groups, clothing manufacturers and more to create the most effective, efficient, and accessible product that can assist people.

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