Advanced manufacturing, smart textiles and digitalisation
R&D OF SMART COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES
CITISENS 2024
Motivation
In the last decade, the concept of the Smart City has experienced rapid global expansion, representing an innovative and adaptive response to the complex interactions between social, political, technological, and economic factors that characterise contemporary urban life.
The very concept of a Smart City arises from the pressing need to efficiently and sustainably manage urban resources, especially those that are shared and susceptible to social dilemmas, such as infrastructure, water, and energy. The optimisation of these resources through innovative technologies becomes a priority to address problems that threaten the viability and quality of life in cities, such as congestion, pollution, and the overexploitation of natural resources.
Objectives
Development of technologies applicable to textile or textile-based structures that enable, in a fast, safe, and cost-effective manner, the transition of cities toward data-driven models, creating new connected urban environments that promote sustainability, environmental quality, and safety, ultimately improving citizens’ quality of life.
The specific objectives to be achieved are:
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Development of textiles and/or composites capable of monitoring the health of their internal structure, identifying and detecting potential damage.
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Development of textile-based solutions with the ability to monitor environmental parameters in urban areas, featuring self-powered systems that harvest ambient energy.
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Study of the industrialization of the researched technologies and assessment of their economic feasibility.
Obtained results
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Application of electronic integration technologies, 3D printing, conductive embroidery, and solar energy in functional products.
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Development of a smart helmet with integrated wireless audio, ergonomic design, and concealed wireless charging, combining safety and urban connectivity.
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Design of a self-sufficient urban greenhouse, equipped with sensors and actuators controlled by a microcontroller and powered by solar energy, capable of automatically regulating irrigation, ventilation, and heating.
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Incorporation of electronically printed heating elements and efficient geotextile covers for sustainable gardening.
- Sensorized wind turbine blade with embroidered solar panels that generate and store energy to power sensors and communication systems.
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Textile flexion sensors produced through conductive thread embroidery, offering high sensitivity for structural health monitoring (SHM).
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Environmental textile demonstrator featuring embroidered sensors and BLE connectivity to measure temperature, humidity, light, and radiation, with real-time visualization via a mobile app.
Grant number: IMDEEA/2024/69
Programme: Grants to CV technology centres for R&D projects in cooperation with the private sector
Period of execution: January 2024 – August 2025
Status: Finished
More information: Amount – 240.680,65 €
Entity: IVACE
This project is supported by the Valencian Regional Government’s Ministry of Innovation, Industry, Trade and Tourism, through IVACE, and is co-financed by the FEDER (European Regional Development Fund) of the European Union, within the FEDER Operational Programme of the Valencian Community 2021-2027.
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R&D AREAS
New high-performance functionalised materials
Circular economy and sustainability
Advanced manufacturing, smart textiles and digitalisation
High value-added solutions for strategic markets
RELATED PROJECTS
NEWS
AITEX is present at the Babykid FIMI fair at Feria Valencia from January 26 to 28, presenting tests and certifications for children’s products.
AITEX has attended the Cosmetorium fair in Barcelona once again on October to present its new products for the cosmetic sector.
AITEX has hosted the LIFE POLITEX workshop entitled “Closing the textile polyester cycle: challenges and opportunities”, based on promoting sustainable solutions for the management and recycling of textile materials.