Abstract: Disclosed herein is a wearable article, comprising a fabric. In some embodiments, the fabric comprises an inner material layer which forms an inner surface of the wearable article, an outer material layer which forms an outer surface of the wearable article; and one or more intermediate material layers disposed between the inner and outer material layers. In some embodiments, the inner, outer, and one or more intermediate material layers are knitted together to provide a combination of two or more of: two or more compression zones; two or more mobility zones; two or more materials; or one or more electronic components.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a shape memory alloy (SMA) cartridge for use in providing controllable compression. The SMA cartridge includes first and second end caps, each of the first and second end caps being coupled to a passive material. One or more SMA coils extend between the first and second end caps. The SMA coils have a trained state and a deformed state, where the SMA coils are in the deformed state when a stimulus is provided thereto and the SMA coils are in the trained state when the stimulus is removed therefrom. The first end cap and the second end cap include a locking mechanism to automatically lock the first and second end caps in a fixed position relative to one another when the SMA coils are contracted.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a system and method for measuring surface deformation and strain using digital image correlation of a surface of a test object. A data acquisition system acquires images of the surface. The surface has a unique surface pattern to facilitate image acquisition. The images are grouped into one or more image sets. Three dimensional image correlation is performed on each of the image sets to determine deformation and strain data. The deformation and strain data from the image sets are stitched into one dataset. Principal strains and lines of non-extension (LoNEs) directions are determined. One or more LoNEs streamlines and lines of maximum and minimum extensions are determined. Visualizations for the strain magnitudes, LoNE streamlines, maximum and minimum extension streamlines are generated in three dimensions.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for a motion capture system and a three-dimensional (3D) tracking system used to record body position and/or movements/motions and using the data to measure skin strain (a strain field) all along the body while a joint is in motion (dynamic) as well as in a fixed position (static). The data and technique can be used to quantify strains, calculate 3D contours, and derive patterns believed to reveal skin's properties during natural motions.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a shape memory alloy (SMA) cartridge for use in providing controllable compression. The SMA cartridge includes first and second end caps, each of the first and second end caps being coupled to a passive material. One or more SMA coils extend between the first and second end caps. The SMA coils have a trained state and a deformed state, where the SMA coils are in the deformed state when a stimulus is provided thereto and the SMA coils are in the trained state when the stimulus is removed therefrom. The first end cap and the second end cap include a locking mechanism to automatically lock the first and second end caps in a fixed position relative to one another when the SMA coils are contracted.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a system and method for measuring surface deformation and strain using digital image correlation of a surface of a test object. A data acquisition system acquires images of the surface. The surface has a unique surface pattern to facilitate image acquisition. The images are grouped into one or more image sets. Three dimensional image correlation is performed on each of the image sets to determine deformation and strain data. The deformation and strain data from the image sets are stitched into one dataset. Principal strains and lines of non-extension (LoNEs) directions are determined. One or more LoNEs streamlines and lines of maximum and minimum extensions are determined. Visualizations for the strain magnitudes, LoNE streamlines, maximum and minimum extension streamlines are generated in three dimensions.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for a motion capture system and a three-dimensional (3D) tracking system used to record body position and/or movements/motions and using the data to measure skin strain (a strain field) all along the body while a joint is in motion (dynamic) as well as in a fixed position (static). The data and technique can be used to quantify strains, calculate 3D contours, and derive patterns believed to reveal skin's properties during natural motions.

Abstract: Described herein are systems and techniques for a motion capture system and a three-dimensional (3D) tracking system used to record body position and/or movements/motions and using the data to measure skin strain (a strain field) all along the body while a joint is in motion (dynamic) as well as in a fixed position (static). The data and technique can be used to quantify strains, calculate 3D contours, and derive patterns believed to reveal skin's properties during natural motions.

Abstract: An active compression garment includes at least one active textile member formed from a shape memory alloy (SMA) material to provide controllable compression to a body part of interest. The active compression garment may also include at least one contact for applying an electrical stimulus signal to the active textile member to cause the SMA material to return to a trained shape.

Abstract: An active compression garment includes at least one passive member to at least partially surround a body part of interest and at least one active actuator member including a shape memory alloy (SMA) that is coupled to the at least one passive member. The at least one active actuator member may be configured to apply compression to, or remove compression from, the body part of interest based on the presence or absence of an applied stimulus.

Abstract: An elastic skin suit simulates gravitational loading. By selecting material(s) of appropriate dimensions and appropriate module of elasticity, and optionally integrating inelastic portions to maintain a desired surface distribution, the suit can be adapted to impose a loading regime that simulates the loading of terrestrial gravity in a more continuous, shoulder-to-ankle manner than current loading suits.