Soft Ro-bra-tics: Adaptive Bra Design Using Integrated Shape Memory Materials

Garment-based soft robotics is an emerging domain which seeks to integrate compliant mechanical actuators into textile/clothing form factors. There exists a significant opportunity to develop and deploy these garment-based technologies to overcome accessibility challenges in everyday clothing, providing a suite of adaptive solutions that can support and assist with the daily challenge of tightening/loosening or fastening/unfastening a garment. In this paper, we present two embodiments of adaptive bras with embedded shape memory materials to provide robotically-assisted adaptive / customizable fit - one embodiment is designed for individuals with dexterity limitations that are typical in conditions such as arthritis, and another embodiment is designed to be fully usable with one hand. This approach, which we define as 'Soft Ro-bra-tics', represents a novel solution to overcome bra-related accessibility issues.