Wireless battery-free body sensor networks using near-field-enabled clothing

TLDR

Wireless sensor networks on the skin enable continuous physiological monitoring for clinical, athletic, and human‑machine interface applications. This work introduces near‑field‑enabled clothing that establishes wireless power and data links between multiple distant body points, forming a battery‑free sensor network connected through textile patterns. The system is built by computer‑controlled embroidery of conductive threads, creating fully fabric‑based near‑field‑responsive patterns without fragile silicon components. The networked clothing is shown to support real‑time, multi‑node measurement of spinal posture and continuous sensing of temperature and gait during exercise.

Abstract

Abstract Networks of sensors placed on the skin can provide continuous measurement of human physiological signals for applications in clinical diagnostics, athletics and human-machine interfaces. Wireless and battery-free sensors are particularly desirable for reliable long-term monitoring, but current approaches for achieving this mode of operation rely on near-field technologies that require close proximity (at most a few centimetres) between each sensor and a wireless readout device. Here, we report near-field-enabled clothing capable of establishing wireless power and data connectivity between multiple distant points around the body to create a network of battery-free sensors interconnected by proximity to functional textile patterns. Using computer-controlled embroidery of conductive threads, we integrate clothing with near-field-responsive patterns that are completely fabric-based and free of fragile silicon components. We demonstrate the utility of the networked system for real-time, multi-node measurement of spinal posture as well as continuous sensing of temperature and gait during exercise.