Snježana Firšt Rogale

Technical systems in intelligent clothing with active thermal protection

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine the practical construction of a patented intelligent article of clothing with active thermal protection, outer shell with a variable thickness, system of thermoinsulating chambers, sensors and measuring systems, microcontroller and control system, actuator system and power supply system based on hardware aspect.Design/methodology/approach – Based on practical construction and software aspect, a measuring and control program with algorithm of intelligent behavior is presented.Findings – An intelligent article of clothing with thermal protection like a complex technical system consisting of a very complex architecture connected by different bus types to constitute a complex system acting synchronously and effectively controlled by the microcontroller containing the program which is based on the algorithm of the intelligent behavior.Research limitations/implications – The technical systems described represent a suitable basis for experiments and scientific research durin...

Equipment and methods used to investigate energy processing parameters of sewing technology operations

Purpose – The equipment for computerised measuring of electrical power and energy is presented, adapted to the needs of investigating processing parameters of garment sewing operations.Design/methodology/approach – The method of measuring the energy necessary to run the sewing‐machine driving electrical motor is also presented, correlated to the stitching speed in joining a straight seam in a single, two, or three, segments. Electrical energy consumption is analysed as dependent on the stitching speed, varying the number of stitches in the seam.Findings – The investigations described have shown the impact of the method of work applied and the effect of the changes in garment sewing operation in processing parameters on the level of electrical energy consumed by the sewing‐machine drive electrical motor. A new measuring method has been introduced in garment engineering, aimed at predicting electrical energy consumption in garment sewing operations, thus opening a completely new field of investigation in th...

Investigation of dynamic working zones and movements in garment engineering

A new measuring system for three‐dimensional video recording is described, together with its application and possibilities in investigating dynamic working zones in garment manufacturing processes, employing a kinematic method. A video recording can be processed as a series of static frames or as a dynamic series of recordings, employing a system for video recording and storing the recordings from three planes (ground plane, side view and frontal representation of a workplace). Static zones are created by movements of levels one to four, while dynamic zones are created with the help of the whole body, using movements of levels five and six. Processing is done using a contemporary computerised system, software for processing video recording and software for image processing. The new measuring system presented works together with the measuring system for the processing parameters of garment sewing operations, and enables the investigator to work on movement cyclograms and dynamic workingzones, depending on the processing parameters,operation structure and workplace designing.Results obtained relevant for the investigations in garment engineering processes are described, with the emphasis on work study and workplace designing in the garment industry – the need to measure spatial values (angles, distances, dimensions etc.), temporal values (duration of the movements, movement trajectories, acceleration etc.). The process ofcreating a cyclogram for the graphic presentation of movements is also presented.

Intelligent clothing: first and second generation clothing with adaptive thermal insulation properties:

This paper deals with the idea that one of the inner thermal insulation layers of a garment may be replaced by expanding the air chambers in the form of an expanding thermal insert, which is inflated with air causing the chamber thickness and thermal insulation properties to change. The chambers are controllable so that the thermal insulation properties can be changed, and by connecting with an appropriate control, the architecture of an article of clothing can be designed such that it can independently monitor changes in its environment and change its thermal insulation properties in accordance with changes in its external and internal environment. In this way, it acquires the characteristics of intelligent clothing. The paper presents idea concepts, development, structural architecture and general characteristics of two generations of intelligent clothing with adaptive thermal insulation properties. The expanding thermal inserts are situated between the outer shell and the lining and are the key element of this type of new clothing. In the first generation of intelligent clothing the expanding inserts were designed in combination with three horizontal chambers that can be sealed in three horizontal layers, whereby it is possible to make six adaptable discontinuous levels of thermal insulation. In the second generation, ribbed expandable chambers were used. Their thickness is continuously changeable according to the pressure change in the chambers, whereby the value of thermal insulation of the chambers can be continuously adapted. The functioning of this clothing is based on the integration of sensors for internal and external temperature and air pressure in the chambers, on a microcontroller with regulation software and actuators to control the expanding insert. When wearing this kind of clothing, the microcontroller system monitors changes in ambient temperature and clothing microclimate depending on the wearer’s physical activity, compares them with the achieved thermal protection and makes autonomous decisions on the required increase or decrease in thermal protection. Since this clothing follows changes in its internal and external environment, estimates the real and necessary state, makes decisions and independently performs the adaptation of thermal insulation to a level that it ensures constant thermal comfort, it can be claimed that such a garment has the basic attributes of intelligent clothing. The paper describes the functioning of two types of thermal insulation chambers, the sensor system used, micropneumatic components, the microcomputer system, the flow chart of the algorithm of intelligent behavior, the complete built-in architecture of all technical subsystems, features of the first and second generation and the observed good and bad points of the conceptual approach to the development of intelligent clothing with adaptive thermal insulation properties.