Research Overview

Wearable Sensors (Electronic textiles)

Based on fiber-based electronic sensors, various wearable electronics, particularly electronic textile, can be implemented. Simply by sawing the fiber-based mechanical sensors into typical textiles, gloves, and clothes, smart gloves which can wirelessly control a drone and robot can be successfully developed. Real-time pressure sensing textiles for monitoring shape and weigth of a passenger on a chair is another application of fiber sensors. In addition, numerous awesome applications will be demonstrated by SoBiLab.

Implantable Sensors (Electronic sutures)

1D fiber-based electronic devices have a unique advantage in biomedical or implantable applications thanks to the structural feature. Nevertheless, fiber electronics has been barely investigated in biomedical applications. SoBiLab aims to successfully apply 1D soft electronic devices to biomedical applications and bridge previous biomedical/implantable soft electronics with clinical applications. Several relevant projects are ongoing. Join us!

1D Soft sensors

It has been practically difficult to apply previous planar (2D) electronic devices to complex (1D or 3D) structures of various wearable applications mainly due to the structural mismatch in between. In particular, textile electronics, one of main directions for future wearable electronics, greatly demands a new type of electronic device with superior compliance with textiles and better deformability. Fiber electronics is a perfect candidate for achieving the future wearable electronics and smart textiles! SoBiLab has world-leading expertise in fiber electronics, especially for sensor technology.

Flexible and Stretchable electronics

Mechanical compliance including flexibility and stretchability is a key feature of soft electronic devices for wearable or biomedical applications. We have developed several types of flexible and stretchable electronic devices such as bioinspired flexible pressure sensor array, paper keyboard, 1D stretchable sensors, etc. Based on the plentiful experience and expertise in flexible/stretchable electronics, we are extending our research to soft robotics, actuators, and wearable robotics.