i.Dummy is a robot mannequin.
Examples abound of PolyU providing solutions for industry and even anticipating future trends. A key part of our drive to excel has been our commitment to invent not just novelties but solutions to real world problems that actually benefit and substantially change industries.
Nu-Torque Singles Ring Yarn Technology produces yarn with higher strength and excellent softness.
Major solutions include the Nu-Torque Singles Ring Yarn Technology that has revolutionized yarn production and textile quality; and Tomorrow's Guestrooms at Hotel ICON, PolyU's teaching and research hotel, which are setting standards for the hotel rooms of the future.
Another industry changing innovation, winner of the Grand Award and the Category Award (Silver) at the Design for Asia Awards 2014, is i.Dummy, a robot mannequin set to revolutionize the garment industry.
Developed by Dr Allan Chan, Associate Professor at the Institute of Textiles and Clothing, and his team, i.Dummy is a robotic female torso that can simulate any body type, drawing on a massive database of body sizes collected from American, European, Japanese and Chinese sources. With this system, "a single mannequin fits all", Dr Chan said. "Workshops or shop-floors won't have to stock mannequins of different sizes, which often take up lots of valuable working space."
Garment factories will now be able to supply products suitable for multiple international buyers, and as the mannequin can be adjusted through a user-friendly graphical user interface on a computer or smartphone, consumer reluctance to purchase clothing online should decline. PolyU stays one step ahead of industry needs, helping to shape market conditions.
