Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on Wednesday that a research team led by Professor Steve Park from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a groundbreaking platform for flexible and wearable electronic textiles (E-textiles) by innovatively printing electronic circuits directly onto fabric.
This cutting-edge wearable electronic textile platform integrates three-dimensional (3D) printing technology with advanced materials engineering to directly print flexible yet durable sensors and electrodes onto fabric.
The technology enables the precise collection of individual soldiers’ movement and physiological data, paving the way for tailored training models based on this information.
Breaking away from conventional methods that limit complexity and customization, the research team introduced a layer-by-layer technique known as Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D printing.
This advancement allows for versatile design implementation without the need for complex mask-making processes.
At the heart of this technology is a high-performance functional ink, engineered using advanced materials science. It can stretch up to 102% while maintaining stable performance through 10,000 repetitive tests.
The research team explains that this provides a reliable foundation for consistently obtaining accurate data even during soldiers’ intense physical activities.
The team validated the platform’s performance through real-world experiments that monitored human movement. They printed electronic textiles on key joint areas of clothing, including shoulders, elbows, and knees, to measure movement and posture changes in real-time during various exercises such as running, jumping jacks, and push-ups.
They also demonstrated potential applications by monitoring breathing patterns using a smart mask and printing multiple sensors and electrodes on gloves to recognize objects through machine learning and perceive complex tactile information.
Army Major Dr. Park Kyu Soon, the lead author of the study, stated that the military is currently facing both challenges and opportunities due to declining personnel resources resulting from demographic shifts and advancements in science and technology. Furthermore, this research secures foundational technology that can provide customized training based on military occupational specialty, position, and combat type, ultimately enhancing soldiers’ combat effectiveness and survivability.
This groundbreaking research was published in the prestigious international journal npj Flexible Electronics, which focuses on electrical, electronic, and materials engineering.