Scientists have created a self-dressing robotic suit that can pull itself on in just 10 seconds, using inflatable 'vines' hidden inside the fabric to inch its way up a person's body.
Unlike previous robotic dressing systems, the device works even while the wearer is moving, meaning there is no need to stand perfectly still. Researchers say the technology could one day help elderly and disabled people get dressed independently, and could allow firefighters and medics to suit up in seconds during emergencies.
The team wrote in the journal IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters that the system, called the Self-Wearing Adaptive Garment, or SWAG, "uses an unfurling and growth mechanism to facilitate autonomous dressing." They added that "unlike traditional approaches, the SWAG conforms to the human body through an unfurling-based deployment method, eliminating skin-garment friction and enabling a safer and more efficient dressing process."
The team, from Stanford University and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, said their invention was inspired by the way ivy creeps up walls. When pressurised, the soft and flexible vines hidden within the clothing glide the fabric up close to the wearer's body, much like a plant climbing up a structure.
Lead author Kim Nam Gyun said he came up with the idea during a rainstorm. "When I was riding a bicycle, it started to rain, and I thought it would be helpful if a raincoat could be put on automatically as I ride," he said. He added that "the vine robot stays close to the person and dresses them by turning the clothing inside out as it moves, allowing it to climb stably along the shape of the body."
A key to the technology's potential is that it does not require the wearer to stand motionless, and it works without a complex control algorithm, the researchers said. The robot advances by growing at its tip, much like a party horn unrolls when it is blown. As it inflates, it extends along the wearer's body, turning the fabric inside out as it advances. Depending on the air pressure used, it can take around 10 seconds to put on an all-in-one suit.
Applications beyond dressing
Ryu Jee-Hwan, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at KAIST, said "it can pass through narrow gaps, grow while adapting to the shape of its surrounding environment, and move regardless of whether the surface is slippery, sticky, or sloped."
Beyond helping the elderly and disabled, the team sees potential uses in situations where someone needs to suit up and get moving quickly without using their hands. This includes semiconductor cleanrooms and emergency workers who need to put on personal protective equipment.
The researchers concluded that "the proposed system demonstrates effective garment application across various garment configurations, presenting a promising alternative to conventional robotic dressing assistance."
The suit is not the first Wallace and Gromit-esque device to be invented in recent years. Earlier this year, a separate team developed a fully automatic toothbrush that cleans teeth without any assistance, and scientists have also created a button that allows dogs to control household appliances, such as a kettle, with the touch of a paw.
