Flexible electronics for heated glove control

Wearable devices are a promising technology for collecting and analyzing physiological and environmental data for various applications, including healthcare, sports and fitness, and occupational health and safety. In some settings, these wearable devices can also be integrated with actuation capabilities to interact with users.
The proposed research project focuses on applying wearable technologies to thermal comfort and regulation. This will be achieved through the design of heating gloves for Canadian workers in extreme cold environments, such as construction and mining. While protective gloves are essential in these environments, their bulkiness can be a drawback. They can limit dexterity and require a stronger grip, potentially contributing to carpal tunnel syndrome. Additionally, vibrations can exacerbate vibration-induced white finger, especially when hands are cold.
This project aims to explore the use of heating gloves. By generating sufficient warmth, the gloves can be thinner, reducing the needed gripping force while still providing thermal comfort and regulation. The project will focus on developing and programming a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) to control the heating element, which will be developed in a concurrent project.
This research will contribute to the growing field of wearable and printed textile electronics and their application to occupational health and safety.

Faculty Supervisor:

Julia Guérineau

Student:

Partner:

Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

École de technologie supérieure

Program: