Smart textiles in automotive interiors
Résumé
In this chapter different smart textile structures suitable for use in car interiors are presented. One of the main interests of smart textile integration in car interiors is also related to the ‘customization’ trend. Designing very low weight car seats with heating fabric and achieving space saving and comfort thanks to a more breathable structure are now possible. However, only few applications can be found today involving smart textile structures comprising sensors, actuators, and computing and storage devices integrated into internal car elements. On the other side, car interiors contain a range of textile surfaces that may host textile-based sensors and actuators adapted to this specific space. They may be classified in function of the measured parameters and effects they are able to generate. This classification is given below:
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Sensors: temperature, humidity, strain, UV radiation, acceleration, light intensity, etc.
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Actuators: heating, cooling, different kinds of alert signals, flexible screens and displays, security systems, etc.
Flexible devices integrated into textile structures of a car interior could also be used as physiological sensors for various vital parameters. Heating textiles can be developed to be suitable for flexible structures as car seats, steering wheel, etc.
The potential use of shape memory alloys in car seats, so that they always have the same ‘new’ look, is also very interesting. Their price is currently the main problem. Nevertheless, they may be used in small quantities and mixed with traditional textile threads to achieve costs attractive for luxury cars