About ASSIST

The Center for Advanced Self-Powered Systems of Integrated Sensors and Technologies (ASSIST) is a National Science Foundation-sponsored Nanosystems Engineering Research Center (NERC). ASSIST develops and employs nanotechnology-enabled energy harvesting and storage, ultra-low power electronics and sensors to create innovative, battery-free, body-powered and wearable health monitoring systems.

The center’s mission is to use nano-technology to improve global health by enabling a correlation between personal health and personal environment to help to manage wellness and improve quality of life.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting

April 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Packages that power biochemical and environmental sensors. Breathing is the most consistent source of kinetic energy in the human body, as it produces a large circumferential displacement in the chest, even during sleep. This oscillation is one of few mechanisms in the human body that can also be ex…
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High-performance sewing

April 1, 2017  |  Markets, Upholstery

Choosing the right sewing machine saves time and money. Every trade has its tools, and marine fabrication is no exception. A critically important tool of marine fabrication is the sewing machine. Regardless of the brand, a sewing machine has to be durable, reliable and easily maintained, because it …
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Keeping up with carbon

March 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Demand for carbon fiber stresses market ability to provide it,  but costs and efficiences are expected to improve. Although carbon fiber as a commodity has been around since the late 1960s, only in the past 10 years can there truly be considered a dynamic market of real substance with steady growth…
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Covering the environment

February 20, 2017  |  Markets, Tents

Eco-concerns increase in truck and tarp industry These days, nearly every business is burdened with some kind of environmental challenge. These challenges include cutting landfill deposits, disposing toxic-laden wastes in a proper manner and educating employees on workplace recycling. Nearly every c…
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Green glamping

February 17, 2017  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Eco-friendly glamping structures designed to keep Mother Nature smiling. Glamping brings together the best of two worlds—all the splendor Mother Nature has to offer in posh, elegant accommodations. As if that weren’t enough, glamping structures are usually designed with fabrics that blend into t…
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Inflation rates

February 1, 2017  |  Fabric Structures, Markets

Blow-up shapes and structures make a valuable medium for edgy and interactive art. When Los Angeles based artist Paul McCarthy installed two works in Munich’s Haus der Kunst, the widely known provocateur hired a company that specializes in inflatables for branding to create a flowerpot of geranium…
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Special (fabric) effects

February 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Ubisoft and OCAD University students worked together to advance the technology of the motion capture suit. Ubisoft, a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, is behind some of the world’s most recognizable game brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Tom…
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Better chemistry, better products

February 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Sustainability in textile development and manufacturing is an ongoing conversation, much of it revolving around processes that conserve energy, water and natural resources. Beyond manufacturing processes, however, sustainability issues are driving true technical innovation, resulting in new products…
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Self-cleaning textiles embrace sustainability

January 10, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Self-cleaning textiles and coatings are making inroads in a variety of industries including those related to medical, architectural and fashion endeavors. Using hydrophilic and photocatalytic properties, self-cleaning textile technology allows fabrics to be cleaned simply by water without using clea…
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Knowing what you need

January 1, 2017  |  Advanced Textiles, Markets

Examining antimicrobial and omni-repellency performance. Textile testing was front and center at IFAI’s Advanced Textiles Conference and on the IFAI Expo 2016 show floor in Charlotte, N.C. Testing to be assured that a product will perform as expected is an important step in the development of any …
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