MIT creates clothing that changes shape and color

Imagine wearing a shirt that can change its color and shape according to your mood, the weather, or the occasion. Sounds like science fiction, right? Well, not anymore. A team of researchers at MIT has created a new type of fiber that can do just that.

The fiber, called FibeRobo, is made of a polymer core surrounded by a conductive layer and a piezoelectric layer. The polymer core can change its color when exposed to heat or electricity, while the piezoelectric layer can bend and twist the fiber when voltage is applied. By combining these two effects, the fiber can create complex patterns and shapes on demand.

The researchers have woven FibeRobo into fabrics that can be used for adaptive clothing, soft robotics, and smart textiles. For example, they have created a fabric that can display different logos or messages depending on the user's preference. They have also created a fabric that can act as a soft gripper, picking up and releasing objects by changing its shape.

FibeRobo is not only versatile, but also durable and scalable. The researchers have tested the fiber under various conditions, such as washing, drying, stretching, and bending, and found that it can retain its functionality for thousands of cycles. They have also demonstrated that they can produce kilometers of FibeRobo using a standard fiber manufacturing process.

The researchers hope that FibeRobo will open up new possibilities for interactive and responsive textiles, as well as novel applications in wearable computing, health monitoring, and human-machine interfaces. They plan to further improve the performance and functionality of FibeRobo, as well as explore new ways to integrate it with other materials and devices.

FibeRobo is truly a shape-shifting fiber that can morph fabrics into anything you can imagine.