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Australian university team develops Bionic Bra prototype

10 Dec '14

2 min read

A research team at Australia’s University of Wollongong (UOW) has recently developed a new prototype of ‘Bionic Bra’ that can change its size depending on what the wearer is doing.

Made using intelligent components, the prototype, with the help of its in-built actuators and sensing technologies, can sense breast motion and provide additional support during sports activities and can relax when the wearer is not engaged into any physical activity.

Started some 15 years ago, the research team is jointly led by Professor Gordon Wallace, the Executive Research Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science at UOW and Professor Julie Steele, the director of Breast Research Australia (BRA) at the same university.

Talking about the recent development, Wallace commented, “Our ability to make things from advanced materials has been greatly enhanced recently with the advent of new approaches to fabrication. The advent of approaches such as 3D printing has enabled us to assemble structures containing new sensing technologies to more accurately monitor movement and new artificial muscle technologies to control it. These advances have inspired us to (re)confront the challenges involved in creating the Bionic Bra.”

A current press release from the UOW states that after developing the prototype, the major hurdle faced by the team was to actually integrate the newly invented technologies into a real functional bra. While explaining the hurdles, one of the team members, Dr Sheridan Gho, says, “Results indicate that our technologies can sense breast motion and provide additional breast support. The challenge now is to integrate these technologies into a functional, comfortable bra.”

Professor Steele also echoed the same concern, “Although we have made substantial progress, we still have a way to go before the Bionic Bra can be taken from the bench top to the washing machine. However, when finished, the Bionic Bra will transform bra design.”

The intelligent bra was discussed at the just concluded 9th edition of Australasian Biomechanics Conference (ABC9) at UOW. (PB)

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Australian university team develops Bionic Bra prototype

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