The European Space Agency (ESA) has agreed to fund work by Ohmatex to create a sock with integrated electronics, reports intelligent textiles website Innovation in Textiles.
The smart sock will used embedded sensors to monitor the muscle activity of astronauts, which will be used to protect against the muscle-wasting effects of time spent in zero gravity.
During the 18-month project, the Danish smart textile manufacturer will work on near-infrared sensors and textile-based EMG electrodes for the sock, which will then be tested at the Aarhus University Research Unit for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics in Denmark.
Ohmatex director Christian Dalsgaard states: 'We hope that this will be a breakthrough for Ohmatex in entering the space field, where our niche expertise has many applications.'
Documents and links
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Innovation in Textiles report
Article on the €199,810 deal to develop sensing socks
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Ohmatex
Website for the Danish smart textiles consultancy
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European Space Agency
Website for the space agency funding the technology development
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