From Textiles to Soft Robotics and the Emergent Approaches in STEAM and Textile Labs

At the intersection of art, technology, biology and science, the emergent field of Soft Robotics can be a beneficial and engaging topic for designers, artists, and educators, who want to implement transversal and innovative projects. Moreover, it enables inclusive learning about robotics and materials applying digital fabrication and biomimetics, offering an explorative space for makers and professionals. This paper discusses the challenges of actuated materials and Soft Robotics inside the transdisciplinary program Fabricademy [1] and informal educational activities in shemakes.eu [2]. Fabricademy explores further the practices of wearable technology and the application of Soft Robotics in a distributed educational format, while shemakes.eu project engages participants from girls in STEAM to women innovators, introducing inclusive practices and digital skills. Both aim to bring this complex knowledge into a hands-on approach in the laboratory, experimenting with different challenges from Soft Robotics, actuated materials, and bio-based composites. This paper will describe some of the practices and challenges starting with the concept, modelling, and manufacturing, that participants and lecturers face during the workshops and lectures. Further, it addresses the impact of this topic area on 4 key areas of education; interaction, fabrication, inclusion and gender gap. The goal of this paper is to highlight how the field of Soft Robotics and actuated materials can (re)shape the implications and applications of wearable technology in education and (re)define emergent approaches in the textile and clothing industry