Sound PostcardPosted: April 13, 2022 A fabric that “hears” your heart's sounds Jennifer Chu, MIT News Office, March 16, 2022
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers have created acoustic fabric that converts mechanical vibrations into electrical signals, like our auditory system. When the fabric is moved, an electrical charge is created. This fabric detects heartbeats and respirations, as well as “the angle of a sound to within 1 degree at a distance of 3 meters.” Not only does this fabric detect sounds, but it can also function as a speaker, sending audible vibrations to another fiber. Potential uses include measuring dust accumulation on spacecraft skin, crack or strain detection in structures, fetal heartbeat monitoring, and improving the signal-to-noise ratio. To learn more: |
