- Sensors draw power through the research textile.
What changed
Researchers in China report a textile embroidered with liquid-metal fibres that connects distributed body sensors to a smartphone. The September 14 paper describes material pathways supporting near-field power transfer and Bluetooth communication. Demonstrations include robotic control, virtual reality and human digital twins, with the phone supplying power to sensors that lack their own batteries.
Why it matters
The engineering value lies in treating clothing as part of the power and communication system. If reliable in everyday use, that approach could reduce the number of separate batteries attached to a wearer.
What remains unproven
The authors' demonstrations do not establish consumer readiness. Washing durability, broad device compatibility and sustained everyday performance are not established by the accessible abstract. The publisher identifies this as an accepted manuscript awaiting final editing.
Read beyond this page.
Recorded source-check date: 15 Sep 2026. A link is not, by itself, evidence that every claim has been independently verified.
Changes & version history
Version 3 · 15 Sep 2026
Scheduled release of checksum-bound AI-assisted editorial review
Version 2 · 15 Sep 2026
Checksum-bound editorial review scheduled for release
Version 1 · 15 Sep 2026
Source-linked private review edition