Piezoelectric poly-L-lactic acid fabric and its application to control of humanoid robot

ABSTRACT

We report the potential of a system that enables the monitoring of complex human movements via new smart fabrics based on a piezoelectric poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) fabric that have the function of sensing complex human motion. In particular, piezoelectric PLLA fabrics with plain, twill, and satin weaves were produced by Teijin Limited, Japan, a joint research company. First, a smart fabric was developed that consisted of pieces of the piezoelectric PLLA fabric with satin, plain, and twill weaves joined in the horizontal direction. The smart fabric, designed to accurately detect the twisting, bending, and elongation of the smart fabric itself was fabricated using a technique for sewing Japanese kimonos. Finally, we developed a prototype system that allows simple human motion to be detected through the motion sensing of clothes capable of being worn on the joints, such as the elbows, shoulders, knees, and waist, obtained by sewing together pieces of the smart fabric. This motion was linked with that of a humanoid robot.

KEYWORDS:

• Piezoelectric polymer
• fiber
• chiral polymer
• poly-L-lactic acid
• sensor
• fabric

PACS:

• 77.84.Dy
• 77.65.–j
• 77.65.Ly

Acknowledgment

We would like to thank Teijin Co., Ltd., for kindly preparing the piezoelectric PLLA fabrics and smart clothes.

Funding

This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Nos. 24655108 and 15K13714) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan.