25 research outputs found
LightFit: A soft robotic seat for autonomous vehicles: Improving comfort of autonomous vehicles seats with soft robotic technology
No full textThis Master’s graduation thesis is a project elaborated for the automotive manufacturer BMW AG. It explores the possibilities given by soft robotic technology to improve comfort while sitting in self-driving vehicles. The project focuses on a specific scenario: a seat that enhances the relaxation experience on the car for long distance travels. An extensive literature research is done on comfort for seat design, soft robotics and BMW strategy on autonomous driving.Prototypes and material tests are made to understand the possibilities with pneumatic soft actuators, resulting in design directions and requirements.Concepts are developed by merging soft robotics capabilities together with design opportunities for improve seat’s adaptability. A Machine Learning model is used to train a textile pneumatic actuator to automatically being able to predict its shape via an optical sensing system. This proves the concept’s feasibility. At the end of the thesis, the final concept design, named LightFit, is proposed. The latter is an automated seat with inflatable soft robotic components embedded in its structure that allow the seat to change shape. The ultimate goal of LightFit is to provide long-term comfort by adapting itself to the user’s body contour and by inducing micro-movements that can decrease perceived discomfort over prolonged sitting.Integrated Product Desig
Weaving Textile-form Interfaces: A Material-Driven Design Journey
No full textA woven textile-form is a form that is constructed simultaneously as the textile is woven. Interfaces designed with this approach hold undisclosed potential for rich interactions. However, the design of woven textile-form interfaces requires specialised tacit knowledge, which is limited even in craft and practice spaces; and it is therefore inaccessible to HCI designers. To bridge this gap, we present the material-driven journey of a multidisciplinary team to design a woven textile-form interface using various techniques such as paper models and diagrams to design for multi-layer weaving. Replacing traditional yarns with conductive yarn, we achieved woven textile-forms with electronic sensing capabilities. By outlining our process, the pictorial highlights the challenges and opportunities of textile-form thinking for HCI designers. Additionally, its printed version serves as a ‘paper prototyping tool’ for designers to gain hands-on experience developing textile-form interfaces.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Emerging MaterialsMaterials and Manufacturin
Implementing textile pressure sensor into car seats
No full textThe smart textile technology shows its strength in seamlessly merges the electrodes within the soft fabric. The textile pressure sensor has been used in many types of research for sensing pressure distribution. However, the existing sensors are not made for daily use. Sensors like the XSENSOR have a high price and contains plastic films, making it not breathable and not friendly for the skin. A sensor made entirely out of fabric is desirable. According to research (Techtextil, 2015), the car has around 30 kilograms of textiles. This project aims to show a new design using smart textile technology - the fabric pressure sensor. This project considers two aspects: 1. Technical aspect- Learn the sensing principle and sensor structure from literature. Make the textile sensor work. If possible, make the sensor work under the automotive context. 2. Societal aspect- Identify user needs. Determine where and how to use this new technology. Design around the sensor and make the data output fulfill the demands of the user. The design approach is the co-evolution model. Five design phases are included based on the basic design cycle- Analysis, preliminary tests, synthesis, embodiment, and evaluation. In general, this project sets the start of the implementation of the textile pressure sensor in the car. The project starts with technology in researches and reached the level of a working prototype validated in the laboratory.Integrated Product Desig
Detecting passenger postures by pressure sensors under the cushion of an aircraft seat
No full textIntegrated Product Desig
The unfolding of textileness in animated textiles:: An exploration of woven textile-forms
No full textDesigners of textile-based interactive systems tend to treat woven fabrics as static materials and lack deeper understandings of how the textile can be designed for responsive behaviours in artefacts. As a result, in most studies across design and HCI, textiles are employed as substrates for computational, biological, or smart materials. This narrow view limits the potential of textiles that can be programmed to express responsive behaviour through their inherent material qualities. Our paper aims at bridging this gap in the design of animated textile artefacts. We present woven textile-forms where textile structures are programmed to tune the behaviour of low-melt polyester yarn that shrinks when heat is applied, resulting in complex topological and textural woven forms that can change over time. Foregrounding woven-forms as a medium for animated textiles, our work calls for design and HCI researchers to pay attention to textileness for prolonged relationships between users and animated textile artefacts while eliminating waste from production and end of life.Emerging Material
Exploring Animated Textiles Using Pneumatic Actuators: Towards a Toolkit
No full textThis project explores how 3D printed pneumatic soft actuators can be used to enhance the expressiveness of textiles with alive-like movement. The research begins by studying current literature on shape changing materials and interfaces in order to select the best candidate material to explore during the project. The project then uses a material driven approach to characterize the 3D printed pneumatic textiles for enhancing their performance and ease of fabrication. Based on the characterization, a material concept is created to showcase the material qualities found during the research and to help study the material experience of shape changing interfaces in future research.As a result of the research, we introduce Textalive: The Animated Textile Toolkit, a fully 3D printed approach to explore shape changing interfaces and alive-like expressions including its hardware augmented by the computational tool. The toolkit uses accessible 3D printed pneumatic actuators commonly used in soft robotics due to their controllability and ease of fabrication compared to other shape changing materials. The 3D printed pneumatic actuators can be arranged along a 3D printed textile composite to create a variety of shape morphologies. The hardware allows the user to control the kinetic parameters of the movement of the textile to create different expressions. Additionally, the computational design tool allows the designer to predict the shape and movement of the textile by digitally varying the location of the actuator. The toolkit was validated with various designers ranging from different levels of expertise with smart materials showing its potential as a design tool for easily exploring shape changing interfaces and alive-like expressions.Integrated Product Desig
Tex(alive): A toolkit to explore temporal expressions in shape-changing textile interfaces
No full textShape-changing textile interfaces have the potential to create unique functions, expressions, and interactions in everyday artifacts. However, the technical expertise required to fabricate and interact with these interfaces limits designers from rapidly iterating through diverse textile expressions. This pictorial presents TEX(alive), a low-cost and open-source physical-digital toolkit to facilitate the creation of temporal expressions in textile interfaces. TEX(alive) comprises pneumatic actuators that can be interactively configured across a 3d printed grid structure on the textile. Creative sessions with seven designers show that TEX(alive) supports the exploration of temporality in textile interfaces, opening up a design space for unforeseen future application scenarios and alive-like expressions in material-driven design. Finally, we suggest coupling TEX(alive) with a computational simulation tool to allow designers to predict spatial shape change when the textile interface increases in size or complexity. Emerging MaterialsMaterials and Manufacturin
The Perceptions on Male Circumcision as a Preventive Measure Against HIV Infection and Considerations in Scaling up of the Services: A Qualitative Study Among Police Officers in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
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In recent randomized controlled trials, male circumcision has been proven to complement the available biomedical interventions in decreasing HIV transmission from infected women to uninfected men. Consequently, Tanzania is striving to scale-up safe medical male circumcision to reduce HIV transmission. However, there is a need to investigate the perceptions of male circumcision in Tanzania using specific populations. The purpose of the present study was to assess the perceptions of male circumcision in a cohort of police officers that also served as a source of volunteers for a phase I/II HIV vaccine (HIVIS-03) trial in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In-depth interviews with 24 men and 10 women were conducted. Content analysis informed by the socio-ecological model was used to analyze the data. Informants perceived male circumcision as a health-promoting practice that may prevent HIV transmission and other sexually transmitted infections. They reported male circumcision promotes sexual pleasure, confidence and hygiene or sexual cleanliness. They added that it is a religious ritual and a cultural practice that enhances the recognition of manhood in the community. However, informants were concerned about the cost involved in male circumcision and cleanliness of instruments used in medical and traditional male circumcision. They also expressed confusion about the shame of undergoing circumcision at an advanced age and pain that could emanate after circumcision. The participants advocated for health policies that promote medical male circumcision at childhood, specifically along with the vaccination program. The perceived benefit of male circumcision as a preventive strategy to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is important. However, there is a need to ensure that male circumcision is conducted under hygienic conditions. Integrating male circumcision service in the routine childhood vaccination program may increase its coverage at early childhood. The findings from this investigation provide contextual understanding that may assist in scaling-up male circumcision in Tanzania.\u
Analysis of water risks in PNLD-2021 natural science teaching collections for high school
No full textO processo da globalização na sociedade contemporânea, destaca a complexidade dos dilemas atuais resultantes do avanço da ciência e da tecnologia. Ulrich Beck, em sua teoria sobre a Sociedade do Risco, ressalta que a globalização tem gerado riscos e aflições associadas à ciência e tecnologia, nem sempre visíveis para a sociedade. Em complemento, Ivette Veyret define o risco como uma entidade que surge em relação a um indivíduo ou grupo social, emergindo da percepção de ameaça ou catástrofe. A autora discute a classificação dos riscos em diferentes categorias, como os riscos naturais, industriais, sociais e econômicos. Nesse contexto, a escola pode desempenhar um papel importante quando consegue incorporar em seus currículos ou práticas pedagógicas a Educação para o Risco no sentido de dar visibilidade e proporcionar aprendizagens e debates sobre o tema. Tendo em vista a importância atribuída às coleções didáticas para a educação brasileira, a pesquisa visa compreender como os livros didáticos de Ciências da Natureza e suas Tecnologias de Ensino Médio, aprovados pelo Programa Nacional do Livro Didático – PNLD – 2021, abordam a relação dos riscos contemporâneos associados à água e aos recursos hídricos, identificando possíveis lacunas e as tendências presentes nesses materiais. Para organização dos dados e análise foi utilizada a Análise Textual Discursiva, proposta por Moraes e Galiazzi (2016). Foram elaboradas duas grandes categorias de análise inspiradas em I. Veyret para, posteriormente, serem discutidas com base na Teoria da Sociedade de Risco de Ulrich Beck. A análise das sete coleções de livros didáticos revelou um potencial significativo para a Educação para o Risco em relação ao tema investigado. Todas as coleções abordam os riscos Ambientais (RA), Tecnológicos e Industriais (RIT), bem como os Econômicos, Geopolíticos e Sociais (REGS), em forma de texto e atividades. Em algumas o tema é tratado de forma direta, permitindo que discentes tenham condições de analisar criticamente o conteúdo, em outras o tema é tratado de maneira indireta, mas possibilitando que o corpo docente tenha condições de aprofundar o conhecimento sobre o assunto em outras fontes, e, desenvolver o seu trabalho pedagógico adequadamente. Dessa forma, considera-se que há possibilidade de desenvolver a Educação para o Risco associado à água e recursos hídricos utilizando os livros didáticos de Ciências da Natureza aprovados no PNLD 2021.The process of globalization in contemporary society highlights the complexity of current dilemmas resulting from the advancement of science and technology. Ulrich Beck, in his theory on the Risk Society, highlights that globalization has generated risks and afflictions associated with science and technology, which are not always visible to society. In addition, Ivette Veyret defines risk as an entity that arises in relation to an individual or social group, emerging from the perception of threat or catastrophe. This author discusses the classification of risks into different categories, such as natural, industrial, social and economic risks. In this context, the school can play an important role when it manages to incorporate Risk Education into its curricula or pedagogical practices in order to give visibility and provide learning and debates in this topic. Considering the importance attributed to didactic collections for Brazilian education, the research aims to understand how Natural Sciences and their Technologies textbooks intended for high school, approved by the National Textbook Program - 2021, address the relationship of contemporary risks associated with water and water resources, identifying possible gaps and trends present in these materials. To organize the data and analysis, Discursive Textual Analysis was used, proposed by Moraes and Galiazzi (2016). Two major categories of analysis inspired by I. Veyret were created and subsequently discussed based on Ulrich Beck's Risk Society Theory. The analysis of the seven textbook collections revealed a significant potential for Risk Education in relation to the topic investigated. All collections address Environmental, Technological and Industrial, as well as Economic, Geopolitical and Social risks, in the form of text and activities. In some of them the topic is treated directly, allowing students to be able to critically analyze the content, in others, the topic is treated indirectly, but enabling the teaching staff to be able to deepen their knowledge of the subject in other sources, and, develop your pedagogical work appropriately. In this way, it is considered that there is a possibility of developing Education for the Risk associated with water and water resources using the Natural Sciences textbooks approved in the PNLD 2021.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)88887.805778/2023-0
Development of a Soft Robotics Module for Active Control of Sitting Comfort
No full textSitting comfort is an important factor for passengers in selecting cars, airlines, etc. This paper proposes a soft robotic module that can be integrated into the seat cushion to provide better comfort experiences to passengers. Building on rapid manufacturing technologies and a data-driven approach, the module can be controlled to sense the applied force and the displacement of the top surface and actuate according to four designed modes. A total of 2 modules were prototyped and integrated into a seat cushion, and 16 subjects were invited to test the module’s effectiveness. Experiments proved the principle by showing significant differences regarding (dis)comfort. It was concluded that the proposed soft robotics module could provide passengers with better comfort experiences by adjusting the pressure distribution of the seat as well as introducing a variation of postures relevant for prolonged sitting.Technical SupportEmerging MaterialsMaterials and ManufacturingMechatronic Desig
