A new range of high-tech clothing to help the elderly and disabled get about more easily is being developed by experts at Loughborough University (www.lboro.ac.uk), as part of a £5.3 million funding programme announced by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Researchers at the university are working with colleagues at six other universities to develop ‘robotic’ clothing that would support areas of limb injury or limited movement to allow people to do more. The £2 million project, called “wearable soft robotics for independent living”, is being funded by the EPSRC and is due to be completed by June 2018.

Russell Harris, who is leading Loughborough University’s involvement in the study, said: “At present, people with restricted mobility have limited options when it comes to supportive devices. Many wearable options are uncomfortable, and they do not always offer the correct support in the right places. The aim of this project is to create wearable soft robotics that represent normal clothing while offering comprehensive mobility support.”

The research team will look at how electro-active polymers can be incorporated into high-performance fabrics to create clothing that is both comfortable and provides support. The aim is to help people by incorporating artificial ‘muscles’, made of materials that are capable of exerting physical force.

The clothing will be developed using the latest wearable soft robotic nano-science, electrical stimulation and full body monitoring. The clothing could also help in a patient’s rehabilitation, by initially providing strong support and then reducing the level of support as the person recovers.