Soft Robotic Technological Probe for Speculative Fashion Futures

2025-12-29

AI Summary

This study addresses multifaceted challenges confronting soft wearable robots—namely, societal acceptance, bio-sensing ethics, and public expectations in real-world settings. We introduce the “speculative soft robotic garment” paradigm and present Sumbrella: a transformable garment integrating origami-inspired bistable structures, fabric-based pneumatic chambers, and cable-driven actuation, augmented with embedded computer vision and wearable electronics. For the first time, speculative design is rigorously embedded throughout the soft robotics development lifecycle. A qualitative focus group study with 12 creative technology experts elucidates human–robot tensions across three dimensions: bodily expression, social interaction, and surveillance/data misuse. Key contributions include: (1) a kinesic communication framework for human–robot interaction (HRI); (2) the first ethics-by-design guidelines for soft wearable robots in public contexts; and (3) a practice-oriented set of design principles grounded in empirical insight.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Human-Robot Interaction
• Humans and AI: Interaction Techniques and Devices
• Philosophy and Ethics of AI: Safety, Robustness & Trustworthiness

Application Category

• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: Accountability, Transparency, and Ethics for personalization
• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Fairness and ethical considerations in crowd work and in human-in-the-loop AI systems

Abstract

Emerging wearable robotics demand design approaches that address not only function, but also social meaning. In response, we present Sumbrella, a soft robotic garment developed as a speculative fashion probe. We first detail the design and fabrication of the Sumbrella, including sequenced origami-inspired bistable units, fabric pneumatic actuation chambers, cable driven shape morphing mechanisms, computer vision components, and an integrated wearable system comprising a hat and bolero jacket housing power and control electronics. Through a focus group with twelve creative technologists, we then used Sumbrella as a technological probe to explore how people interpreted, interacted, and imagined future relationships with soft robotic wearables. While Sumbrella allowed our participants to engage in rich discussion around speculative futures and expressive potential, it also surfaced concerns about exploitation, surveillance, and the personal risks and societal ethics of embedding biosensing technologies in public life. We contribute to the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) field key considerations and recommendations for designing soft robotic garments, including the potential for kinesic communication, the impact of such technologies on social dynamics, and the importance of ethical guidelines. Finally, we provide a reflection on our application of speculative design; proposing that it allows HRI researchers to not only consider functionality, but also how wearable robots influence definitions of what is considered acceptable or desirable in public settings.

Problem

• Designing soft robotic garments that integrate social meaning and function
• Exploring public interpretation and ethical concerns of wearable robotics
• Investigating speculative design's role in shaping acceptable public wearable technology

Innovation

• Soft robotic garment with origami-inspired bistable units
• Fabric pneumatic actuation and cable-driven shape morphing
• Integrated wearable system with computer vision components