• 2 min read
Robot vines can dress a person in 10 seconds
Researchers from KAIST and Stanford unveiled a soft robotic suit system that wraps itself onto the body in about 10 seconds.
Image: iXBT
A team of South Korean and US researchers has unveiled a robotic clothing system that lets a person put on protective gear without using their hands or outside help. The technology is aimed at settings such as semiconductor clean rooms and emergency response services.
Developed by researchers at KAIST in South Korea and Stanford University, the system uses soft, flexible “vines” embedded in clothing and driven by air pressure. When pressurized, the vines pull the fabric against the wearer’s body, clinging in a way the researchers compare to ivy winding around a structure, even when the person is moving rather than standing still.
“When I was riding a bicycle, it started raining… and I thought it would be useful if a raincoat could put itself on automatically while you’re moving.”
Kim said the robotic vine stays close to the wearer and dresses them by turning the garment inside out during motion, which helps it climb the contours of the body in a stable way. Putting on a full suit takes about 10 seconds.
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According to the researchers, a key advantage is that the system does not require the user to remain still and works without a complex control algorithm.
“Inspired by climbing ivy, the robot moves forward. It can pass through narrow gaps, grow while adapting to the shape of its surroundings, and move regardless of whether the surface is slippery, sticky, or inclined.”
Beyond direct assistance for older adults and people with disabilities, the team sees potential in situations where users need to quickly put on and remove protective suits hands-free — including semiconductor manufacturing clean rooms and emergency workers who need personal protective equipment.
Frontier Editor
Dan is our resident futurist, covering electric mobility, space exploration, and the smart home. He's interested in atoms just as much as bits. Whether it's a new battery chemistry, a reusable rocket, or a protocol that finally makes IoT devices talk to each other, Dan breaks down the engineering that pushes humanity forward.
via iXBT
