MIT researchers have developed FlexBoard, a flexible breadboard that allows for rapid prototyping of interactive sensors, actuators, and displays on curved and deformable surfaces. The breadboard, which is made of thin plastic, connects two pieces of the same material via a living hinge pattern, similar to the caps of condiment bottles and the spines of plastic disc cases.
This design allows for the breadboard to be flexible, enabling it to be sewn onto an item or attached using epoxy glue or Velcro tape. With this design, designers can quickly test different configurations of sensors, displays, and other interactive components, leading to faster product development cycles and more user-friendly and accessible designs.
The Versatility of FlexBoard
Researchers tested out FlexBoard on various items such as kettlebells, video game controllers, and gloves. They found that sensors and displays can attach to the electronic components within each of its hinges. They added sensors and LEDs to the kettlebells, which successfully detected whether users were applying the correct form to their swing workouts. The display indicated red if done incorrectly, or green if executed properly, as well as the number of repetitions. In the future, the platform could improve fitness routines by providing that feedback.
FlexBoard can also enhance virtual reality gaming through controllers and gloves. The team installed a collision warning system on the controllers, alerting players wearing a VR headset when they risk bumping into their surroundings. Sensors and motors were added to deformable gloves to capture gestures, influencing players’ in-game interactions.
Each breadboard is reusable and adhesive, meaning it can withstand repeated bending in both upward and downward directions while remaining fully attached to the prototypes they were tested on. Users can cut the long breadboard strips into smaller segments for tinier items, or several can be attached to prototype on larger objects. For example, several FlexBoards could be wrapped around a tennis racquet, expanding the sensors’ range of detection when reading the speed of a volley.
Futuristic Applications of FlexBoard
FlexBoard could make workout equipment, kitchen tools, furniture, and other household items more interactive. The team acknowledges that their platform needs to be further optimized, requiring improved bendability, durability, and strength through multi-material printing. Additionally, each breadboard is designed for FDM printers, an off-the-shelf 3D fabrication machine, which limits the length and increases the print time of FlexBoards. The terminal strips also require manual assembly and make prototyping bendable objects challenging.
“As many researchers have investigated diversifying material properties, we questioned why the breadboard remains rigid,” says Donghyeon Ko, another author of the work who is a former MIT visiting Ph.D. student from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. “We wanted to make everyday objects ‘breadboard-able’ while developing shape-changing interfaces.”
FlexBoard was presented at the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in April. The platform presents a fundamental development in the modern world of interactive devices. It supports the design of interactive devices by being a versatile and rapid interaction prototyping platform.
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