BioFLeXo is an O2 BioBotic flexible exoskeleton (flexo), pneumatic, closed loop, sustainable soft robotic for optimal breathing!
The Oxygen fabric is an organic algae based textile enhanced with chlorella. It is a living fabric that converts carbon dioxide to oxygen which can be inhaled or absorbed directly through the skin. Photosynthesis on the body and breath with the largest organ, the skin.
Pneumatics for breathing. Inside the design are six inflatable pockets to cue Three Part Breathing – a technique of inhaling first to the belly, then ribs, then chest. First, up the spine and then reversing down the spine. This method helps to regulate the nervous system as it also pumps spinal fluid up and down the spine for optimal homeostasis.
The Chlorella in the textile is an algae that is two billion years old and is currently ranked as one of the top 10 healthy foods in the world. Current research shows algae as a plant suitable for growing in space orbit as it is so small and weightless, can be grown to be implemented as material resources from soft textiles to sturdy plastics. Then, it can also be melted down and reconstituted to new shapes and designs.
Atmos Oxygen Fabric Space travel kit is a closed loop DIY kit for growing and composting Oxygen Fabric for space habitats. Astronauts may create a textile that is a second skin with oxygen and health benefits.
While wearing, the textile not only is portable photosynthesis, it also records stress levels and notes correlation with atmospheric events. Time dated scientific data is able to be extracted at the end of the journey to gain insights of space travel on wellbeing. Finally, the textile may be composted in 21 days and the process begins again. Grow the next textile.
Agency – The fabric may also be infused with the wearers DNA to become a surrogate skin to record growth and environmental stresses of micro-gravity, acting as an agent to check effects of travel. Space travel is known for DNA and RNA degeneration and radiation. There is potential to counteract hardships with chlorella’s healthy effects for detoxification and cell regeneration. As algae has high potential as a material for space, further testing of DNA in combination with algae is meaningful. Research into how it responds to microgravity is limited, but the stresses have been known to provoke epigenetic evolutions.
FleXo – Flexible exoskeleton for therapeutic use – is grateful to have been awarded Wear Sustain Funding.
Sensoree Team 2019
Concept Design and Oxygen DNA fabric – Kristin Neidlinger
Inflatable Biobotic pockets – Fabtextiles
Robotics – Edwin Dertien, Naveen Setty, Kelly Van Tol
Video and Photography – Martijn Josephs
