Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), both in collaboration with the Rhode Island School of Design in the United States, have developed a fabric that can convert mechanical vibrations into electrical signals.
The “acoustic texture” is inspired by the human hearing mechanism. Our ears pick up sound through pressure waves that mechanically push and vibrate our eardrums.
This vibration is transmitted through the bones and auditory chambers to the inner ear and reaches the cochlea, which transforms this mechanical percussion instrument into electrical signals that are decoded by the brain and become sound as we know it.
Similarly, engineers have developed wires with piezoelectric properties that create the texture of a fabric that captures the sound vibrations of the environment and converts this distortion into electrical signals.
In tests, these fibers were able to pick up sounds with different decibels from quiet environments or very noisy environments such as a heavily trafficked road.
The results were positive, and the fabric was able to produce legible information that varied according to the amplitude of the captured sound, and more: engineers reversed the process.
By recording a few words, the engineers transmitted the signal to the fabric vibrating according to the received information and were able to transmit the information to another weft that could recognize the information.
The researchers also used the knit as a shirt lining, in which case the fabric was able to capture the heartbeat. This opens up many uses for the medical world and people who need constant monitoring.
For Wei Yan, who helped develop the fiber with piezoelectric properties in her postdoctoral work at MIT, “This fabric interacts with human skin imperceptibly, allowing users to monitor their heart and respiratory conditions in a comfortable and continuous real-time and long-term.”
According to the researchers, the fabric can be used for ocean, space and even construction research as well as for clothing!
Source: Tec Mundo
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
