I have had a long standing relationship with CoRE, Centre for Robotics Research at Kings College London. There has been three parts to this relationship
The Craft Council’s Parallel Practices where I collaborated with Matthew Howard in investigating the potential for machine embroidered e-textile sensors to pick up electrical muscle activity.
‘All the things you are not yet’ where I created a series of ‘Singing Quilts’ which contained embroidered speakers and circuits. They explored issues around IVF, one of which was displayed at The Utopia Festival at Somerset House
An EPSRC GCRF project the Matthew Howard and Samuel Pitou to investigate the potential of hand sewn e-textile muscle sensors as a reusable and lower cost alternative to mass produced sensors.
When you move a muscle in your body electrical impulses, electromyopthy, can be measured on the surface of the skin (sEMG). These research projects were provide proof of concept and then to compare the results for hand embroidered sEMGs alongside machine stitched and mass produced single use stick on sensors. The rationale was that because they are on a fabric substrate they are more comfortable and there is potential for laundering and therefore re-use which may be a cheaper and more sustainable. Because a hand sewn sensor does not need expensive equipment and relies on straight forward sewing techniques there is also the potential for them to be made by Community Interest Companies (CIC) within the populations of the low income countries where they might be used.
