Wedoany.com Report on Feb 26th, A study reveals that placing sensors on loose fabric can significantly improve the accuracy of motion tracking, opening new avenues for the development of smart clothing. The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications by a research team from King's College London.
Experimental comparisons show that using loose fabric as a sensor carrier improves the accuracy of predicting and capturing body movements by 40% compared to sensors placed directly against the skin, while also reducing the required data volume by 80%.
Co-author Dr. Matthew Howard, a lecturer in engineering at King's College London, stated: "We used to think sensors needed to be in close contact with the body for accurate data, but the research shows that loose, flowing clothing actually makes motion tracking more precise. This means we can move towards 'smart clothing,' such as adding simple buttons or pins to a skirt, to track health in a more natural way."
The study found that loose fabric acts like a "mechanical amplifier," making movements easier to detect. Dr. Howard explained: "When you move your arm, a loose sleeve folds and moves in complex ways, making it more sensitive to motion."
This breakthrough could advance the development of smart clothing, for example, integrating loose fabric sensors into shirt buttons as a discreet alternative to existing devices. The researchers also noted its potential to improve robotics research and gesture-controlled automation technology.
Scientists tested various loose fabric sensors on human and robotic subjects performing different movements. The results indicated that the fabric-based method identifies movements faster, with higher accuracy, and generates predictions using less data.
Co-author Dr. Irene Di Giulio, a senior lecturer in anatomy and biomechanics at King's College London, added: "For conditions like Parkinson's disease, patient movements can sometimes be too subtle for tight wristbands to capture. This technology allows for tracking patients in their homes or care facilities using everyday clothing, aiding doctors in monitoring and medical research."
Dr. Howard believes this research could transform data collection on human mobility, supporting the development of smarter robots. He concluded: "By attaching discreet loose fabric sensors to everyday clothing, we can collect human behavior data on a large scale, bringing innovation to the field of robotics."
