Embedding Sensors by E-embroidery: Practical Steps for Smart Textiles Production

Abstract

Originally used for aesthetic purposes and labour-intensive, today machine embroidery is a major tool for imparting modern look to textiles and providing customization in mass production. Combined with the possibilities for repeatability and rapid design change, embroidery provides opportunities to produce smart E-textiles and especially those with built-in sensors used in medicine. Our aim is to present the practical steps in the process of embedding sensors by E-embroidery to create smart products. The sequence includes selection of sensors, mesostructure and macrostructure of the textile system, threads (conductive or not), embroidery design, connection between the sensors and the data processing device, and experiments in real conditions for validation and verification of the process. Requirements and examples for each steps are also given.