Body Armour

Inspiration

This project was originally inspired by a piece from the MIT Media Lab, a kinetic garment that shifted when a stranger's gaze lingered too long on the wearer's chest, serving as a statement on harassment.

We began by brainstorming mechanisms to prevent harassment, such as detecting groping or unwelcome touch. Over time, this evolved into Body Armour, an interactive statement piece about personal space and boundaries.

What It Does

Body Armour uses six individually actuated mechanical petals that respond dynamically to the proximity of others.

An ultrasonic sensor detects when someone is too close.
When personal space is invaded, the petals unfold, creating a protective “bubble” around the wearer.
WS2818B LEDs light up and change color, signaling both to the wearer and surrounding people that their boundary has been crossed, also drawing attention to the boundary crosser.

The result is a powerful wearable that makes the invisible concept of personal space tangible and visible.

How We Built It

The base corset was made with a combination of fabric and 3D-printed panels
Petals were crafted from plastic and tulle, then mounted onto custom 3D-printed motor mounts, designed in Fusion 360 and Onshape.
The electronics system includes:
- Arduino Uno microcontroller
- Six SG90 micro servo motors (PWM-controlled)
- WS2818B LED strip
- Ultrasonic sensor
- Protoboard for power distribution
- Powered via a wall outlet adapter

The system was soldered together and programmed in C/C++, with controls tuning for synchronized motion.

Challenges We Ran Into

Mechanical prototyping took much longer than expected due to the precision required for moving parts.
Managing six actuators smoothly was technically challenging, especially under a tight timeline.
Time crunch - integrating a fully functioning mechatronics fashion piece in less than 24 hours!

Accomplishments We're Proud Of

Created our first fashion tech project, merging art, design, and engineering.
Developed a powerful social statement that resonates with many, especially women who have experienced discomfort or harassment in crowded spaces.
Successfully built a full mechatronics system, mechanical, software, and electrical system, in under a day.

What We Learned

The importance of fabric choice, including texture, stiffness, and how materials interact with mechanical elements.
Control theory for multi-actuator systems, including implementing sinusoidal motion for smooth, wave-like petal movements.
Rapid prototyping techniques for both mechanical and electronic systems.

What's Next for Body Armour

We envision expanding Body Armour’s capabilities:

Integrate a camera system and run the live feed through Gemini Real-Time, enabling intent detection of people approaching the wearer.
Integrate additional sensors for more robust detection.
Develop more intuitive motion behaviours for different scenarios.
Make it battery-powered and portable, transforming it into a fully wearable, real-world system.

Body Armour is more than a garment, it’s a statement about boundaries, personal safety, and the power of interactive fashion to communicate complex social issues.