Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed an innovative “fibre computer” that can be woven into clothing, presenting a potential alternative to conventional wearable electronics. This breakthrough could significantly impact the fields of fashion, product design, and interior textiles, offering smart functionalities in a lightweight and flexible form.

A New Era of Smart Textiles
Developed by the Fibers@MIT lab, the fibre computer consists of a thin, elastic polymer strand embedded with miniaturized electronic components such as sensors, a microcontroller, digital memory, and a battery. Unlike traditional wearables, which rely on external sensors and rigid circuit boards, this innovation allows computational power to be seamlessly integrated into textiles, enabling garments to collect, process, and communicate data.

To demonstrate its potential, researchers wove multiple fibre computers into a shirt and leggings. These garments were used to analyze movement patterns and, in an upcoming trial, will be tested in real-world conditions by US Army and Navy service members during an Arctic research mission. The goal is to monitor health data in extreme environments, potentially predicting and preventing injuries before they occur.

Material Innovation and Sustainable Integration
A key feature of this fibre computer is its high elasticity and washability, making it practical for everyday wear. The fibres are made using an ultra-flexible thermoplastic polymer that allows stretching by over 60% without affecting the embedded electronics’ performance. The production process involves embedding microelectronic components into a small polymer pellet, which is then heated and stretched into a thin, thread-like form. The electrical connections within the fibre remain functional even when stretched.

To enhance comfort and durability, the polymer fibres can be encased in conventional textile materials such as polyester, merino wool, nylon, or silk, ensuring a familiar feel while maintaining smart capabilities.

Additionally, this new generation of fibres can perform real-time data analysis using machine learning models. In trials, they successfully identified different physical activities such as squats, planks, and lunges. The accuracy of activity recognition improved from 70% for a single fibre computer to 95% when multiple fibres were networked within a single outfit.

Applications in Design and Industry
The integration of computational capabilities into textiles opens up exciting possibilities for various design fields. In fashion and wearable tech, smart clothing can monitor health metrics in real-time, reducing the need for bulky wearable devices. For interior and product design, responsive upholstery and home textiles could adapt to user interaction or environmental conditions. In sports and performance monitoring, advanced athletic wear may track movement and optimize training through embedded machine learning. In medical and assistive technology, garments with integrated sensors could provide continuous health monitoring, potentially aiding in remote healthcare applications. In defense and extreme environments, military uniforms or protective clothing could assess physical strain and environmental conditions in real time.

Future Prospects
Early testing has shown promising results. The fibre computers successfully ran a machine-learning model trained to recognize various physical exercises, achieving 95% accuracy when multiple fibres were networked within a single outfit. In the upcoming Arctic deployment, the garments will provide real-time health and movement data, potentially leading to the development of digital twins for advanced monitoring and predictive analytics.

MIT researchers envision a future where computational textiles become as commonplace as smartphones, enabling users to access apps and services directly through their clothing. This convergence of fibres and computation represents a major step towards functional, sustainable, and responsive material solutions for the design world.

Source: MIT News, Dezeen
Photos: MIT News