Abstract: Yarns incorporating filaments of shape memory materials are described herein that enable the creation of fabrics, garments, and other materials with tunable force absorption or exertion capabilities, as well as creating complex shapes and structures upon actuation. Systems and methods described herein enable selective buckling, recruitment, compression, and other desirable phenomena by actuating fibers in knitted patterns, whether used as isolated filaments or in twisted yarns.

Abstract: Active fabrics can be created by combining active and passive materials. Active materials with shape memory or other actuation characteristics can generate compression or dynamic fit, and the level of compression and/or change in fit can be determined by setting a knit index, wire diameter, and garment ease, or fit in relation to the body. Maximum compression can be set not only by varying physical properties of the knit structure but by built-in circuit breaking technologies, or by segmentation and control of the garment by a controller. In some embodiments, additive manufacturing can be combined with traditional textile equipment (e.g., circular knitting machine). Uniquely functional or active textiles can be made from additively manufactured, heterogeneous filaments. Yarn-like filament with varying properties (such as elasticity, stiffness, conductivity, activation, or surface properties) can be additively manufactured.

Abstract: A fabric-based soft actuator includes a first fabric layer, a second (material) layer, a bladder, and a fluid pump. The first fabric layer has anisotropic or isotropic stretch properties. The second layer is a fabric layer with anisotropic or isotropic stretch properties and/or a strain-limiting layer. The bladder is disposed between or integrated with the first fabric layer and the second layer, while the fluid pump is in fluid communication with and configured to inflate the bladder.

Abstract: Compressive garments described herein include an inner layer, a middle layer coupled to the inner layer, the middle layer comprising a plurality of circuits, each circuit of the plurality of circuits comprising a superelastic cable and a circuit breaker, and a outer layer removably coupled to at least one of the inner layer and the middle layer.