Get the latest tech news
Clever armadillo-inspired "fabric" gets stiff or soft as needed
Soft materials and stiff materials both have their uses, but the two properties typically aren't seen in one substance. RoboFabric is an exception, then, in that it can be switched back and forth between soft and stiff states.
Designed by a team of scientists at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, the material was inspired by the interlocking protective scales of animals such as armadillos and pangolins. Among other possible applications, the technology could conceivably be utilized in arm casts that remain soft as the injured limb is initially being positioned, then stiffened once it's in the desired orientation. Along those same lines, the tech might also find use in assistive joint braces that would allow wearers to lift objects or perform other demanding physical tasks with less effort.
Or read this on r/tech
