Richard Garvin is an instructor and retail expert based in Canada. He has experience designing for retailers globally and a specialized interest in emerging trends, technologies, and product innovation. The document discusses several of Richard's past projects involving space suits, deep sea diving equipment, exoskeletons, and smart textiles. It also explores potential new applications of technologies inspired by natural materials and designs.
2. Richard Garvin is an independent designer
& retail subject matter expert. An instructor
within the Id department at OCADU. He has
designed for retailers around the globe and
has a specialized interest in product
innovation, commercial technologies and
emerging trends.
International Experience:
!
- North America
- Argentina
- Chile
- Germany
- Sweden
- Panama
Retail Sectors:
!
- Grocery and Hypermarkets
- Pharmacy and Cosmetics
- Automotive
- Discount
- Telecommunications
- Airports
- Digital Merchandising (Hardware design)
- Sporting Goods
- Quick Service Restaurants
Introduction:
3. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14 Areas of Exploration…
manufactured materials… applications…
environmental protection…bio-deterrence…
new materials…
outer space… deep sea…
exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
new constructs…
nature’s design…
discovery…
potential innovations…
4. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
“adding new functions to textiles”
5. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
“monitor the body’s vital signs and detect illness and infections at their
earliest stages”
6. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
“monitor the body’s vital signs and detect illness and infections at their
earliest stages”
Technology transference potential: Travel from high risk locations
of known virus and pathogen spread: Targeting commercial airlines
Airline tray tables have been
identified as high risk
carriers of e-coli bacteria.
Inhaling recycled air isn’t
good, what you touch can be
worse.
7. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
Existing tray tables come in a variety
of sizes including embossed
depressions for drinking cups.
Airlines have already begun to use
these surfaces to apply 3rd party ad-
com messaging
How do we take “smart textiles” and
create table top surfaces to neutralize
existing bacterial hazards plus new
infectious diseases?
!
Can a “smart surface” application
discolour leaving a signature the
passenger is infected with something
more severe then everyday surface
germs?
8. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
Antimicrobial
ww.corninggorillaglass.com/en/videos/29
http://www.corninggorillaglass.com/en/videos/32
9. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
S F I T : Smart Fabrics and Intelligents Textiles Areas of Exploration
Observation: 2 current directions
in wearable civilian smart
textiles…
http://
www.caroltorgan.com/self-
tracking-smart-clothes/
Highly functional, medical based &
protective at work wares
Huate couture, fashionable &
sporting ware
textiles…
Huate couture, fashionable &
sporting ware
10. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
Industries:
Construction
Mining
Oil & Gas
Transportation
Utilities
Wind Energy
aerospace application
Global market
leader
Capital Safety’s prime
products are state of the
art,adjustable, comfortable
safety body harnesses with a
full array accessories,
motorized winches, safety
tether lines etc. used for
extreme industries world
wide
http://www.capitalsafety.com/caadmin/Pages/Home.aspx
Richard Garvin’s connection:
!
Help the product launch of their
premier product line, the
“Exofit Nex”, trade show
design, packaging,
advertising and
merchandising to
industrial clients
11. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
manufactured materials…applications…environmental protection…bio-deterrence… Areas of Exploration
Capital Safety’s prime
products are state of the
art,adjustable, comfortable
safety body harnesses with a
full array accessories,
motorized winches, safety
tether lines etc. used for
extreme industries world
wide
http://www.capitalsafety.com/caadmin/Pages/Home.aspx
Re-inventing retail
platforms to service
clients who worked in
remote regions of various
countries, isolated or
removed from urban
locations (depending on
the sector)
Improving product packaging with
simple bio-degradable trays for what
was considered a premium product
12. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Exploration
Expo 86 World
Exposition
Theme: Transportation
After 6 months of hand crafted
construction the suit is tested on a turn
table rig. The suit incorporates a 5
point internal harness to secure the
actor, internal air circulation and
communications to the show’s control.
!
The arms are moveable based on ball
bearing encased discs and articulated
elbow joints. Fabrication of the suit is
fibre reinforced plastics, fibre glass,
MDF and customized aluminum.
outer space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
Objective: Create a design based emerging & current technology of the day,
a hard shell 1 atmosphere space suit. Full size working model and 1/50 scale model for
stop motion control filming purposes.
13. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Exploration
Expo 86 World
Exposition
Theme: Transportation
After 6 months of hand crafted construction
the suit is tested on a turn table rig. The suit
incorporates a 5 point internal harness to
secure the actor, internal air circulation and
communications to the show’s control.
!
The arms are moveable based on ball bearing
encased discs and articulated elbow joints.
Fabrication of the suit is fibre reinforced
plastics, fibre glass, MDF and customized
aluminum.
outer space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
Like
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NASA Ames Hard Suit - assembling AX-1 space suit (W/Vic Vykukal and team)
14. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
The WASP one atmosphere diving system
from Oceaneering (left) allows divers to
work for long periods at depths of 700
meters. The manned suit is used to
inspect and repair facilities located in
deep ocean environments. One of the
most recent developments in deep sea
diving was Nuytco Research’s launch of
the Exosuit, designed to be the next
generation of atmospheric diving suits:
Read more at http://
www.darkroastedblend.com/2013/04/
strange-deep-sea-diving-
suits.html#EDFkRS5x5CqjZ25L.99
Developed in 1987 by
Canadian engineer Phil
Nuytten the Newt Suit can
operate at depths of 300m
providing air for 6-8 hours
with an emergency supply
lasting another 48 hours.
The Newt Suit is one of a
few Atmospheric Diving
Suits currently in active
operation, including the
WASP which is constructed
from glass-reinforced
plastic (GRP).
15. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
GOING UP
COMMON TORSO
UPPER CHEST
Note extended
forearm and
upper arm
extensions
!
Extension sections
for taller chest
!
Extended upper leg
!
Extended lower leg
!
Common ankle
diameter adapts into
multiple shoe sizes
!
Note any exterior controls are
gone. Voice commands control
all functions and suit life
support adjustments
!
Nuytco Research’s launch
of the Exosuit (right),
designed to be the next
generation of
atmospheric diving suits.
!
Nuytco Research is based
on the British Columbia
coast, a Canadian
company. Both
generations of newt suits
are made with forged
aluminum and stainless
steel alloys.
!
The newest suit’s cost is
$ 600,000.
!
Maximum working
depth: 1,000 feet
!
16. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
It remains to be seen whether astronauts will
actually get to Mars by 2020 (NASA's stated
goal), but if they do, they'll probably look
better doing it.
In the 40 years that humans have been
traveling in space, they haven't changed
suits. That is, astronauts have always worn
gas-pressurized outfits that are bulky, heavy
and motion-limiting.
Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology are working on a sartorial
solution, a sleek BioSuit of nylon and spandex
that looks more like something Spider-Man
might wear.
The focus is on improved mobility, said Dava
Newman, a professor of aeronautics and
astronautics at MIT. The current spacesuits
are OK for astronauts when they are, say,
working on a solar panel of the International
Space Station, but they are impracticably
clunky for planetary ramblings.
“It's a whole different ballgame when we go
to the moon or Mars, and we have to go back
to walking and running or loping,” Newman
said.
Dava Newman models
her Biosuit--a sleek
spacesuit that relies on
mechanical counter-
pressure instead of using
gas pressurization.
More Room in the Closet
The proposed suit for the
journey to Mars
17. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
stop motion control filming purposes.
outer space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
Richard Garvin space suit
design illustrations
inspired by the
recent film Prometheus
18. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
A tool to increase productivity, do more with less people or
supplemental equipment. Increase logistical utilization
exponentially. Equipment components vary by size and
desired function.
Users: Constructions, shipping, military logistics, loading
and receiving, etc.
EXOSKELETON SUITS HELPS PARAPLEGICS TO WALKEXOSKELETON SUITS HELPS WORKERS TO BE MORE PRODUCTIVE
Exoskeleton configurations assist people to rehabilitate
people to return their mobility. They can provide mobility
to individuals who might not otherwise have mobility.
This technology serves people young and old. They can
have also great attributes to assist care givers to assist
others.
!
The cost of these machines will go down much the same
as traditional electric scooter, wheel chairs and walkers.
19. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationouter space… deep sea…exoskeleton hybrids…technology enabled…
EXOSKELETON suites can be designed to accelerate soldiers & first responders effectiveness in dangerous conditionssuites can be designed to accelerate soldiers & first responders effectiveness in dangerous conditions
20. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Exploration
Fast Facts
Type:
Fish
Diet:
Carnivore
Average life span in captivity:
15 to 20 years
Size:
Up to 9 ft (2.75 m)
Weight:
440 lbs (200 kg)
Did you know?
The arapaima has a "bony"
tongue fitted with a set of teeth,
which some indigenous people
use as a scraping tool.
Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m)
man:
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/freshwater/arapaima/
A diver shares a tank with an adult arapaima
fish at an aquarium in Manaus, Brazil. Known as
the pirarucu in Brazil and the paiche in Peru, this
South America giant is one of the largest
freshwater fish in the world. Some reach lengths
of more than 10 feet (3 meters) and weigh
upward of 400 pounds (180 kilograms).
Large megafish like these have become rare
worldwide due to heavy fishing. The arapaima is
the focus of several conservation projects in
South America, including no-fishing reserves
and fishing quotas.
Photograph courtesy Zeb Hogan
Also known as the paiche or the pirarucu, the
arapaima is an air-breathing fish that plies the rain
forest rivers of South America's Amazon Basin and
nearby lakes and swamps. One of the world's
largest freshwater fish, these giants can reach 9
feet (2.75 meters) long and weigh up to 440 pounds
(200 kilograms). They have a wide, scaly, gray body
and a tapered head.
Though arapaimas can stay underwater for 10 to 20
minutes, they tend to remain near the water's
surface, where they hunt and emerge often to
breathe with a distinctive coughing noise. They
survive mainly on fish but are known to
occasionally grab birds close to the water's surface.
The arapaima's proximity to the water's surface
make it vulnerable to human predators, who can
easily target them with harpoons. Some indigenous
communities consume the arapaima's meat and
tongue and collect its large scales, which are
fashioned into jewelry and other items.
The Amazon's seasonal floods have become part
of the arapaima's reproductive cycle. During
low-water months (February to April) arapaimas
construct bottom nests and females lay eggs.
Young begin to hatch as rising water levels
provide them with flood conditions in which to
flourish. Adult males play an unusual
reproductive role by incubating tens of
thousands of eggs in their mouths, guarding
them aggressively and moving them when
necessary.
While this giant fish's habitat is relatively
unmolested, overfishing has become a serious
problem, and some South American authorities
have attempted to enact protections.
The Arapaima: Mega Fish
natures design…discovery…Biomaterial’s: The field of biometrics
21. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Exploration
Piranhas: Extreme carnivorous fish
Piranhas have a reputation as ferocious
predators that hunt their prey in
schools. Recent research, however,
which "started off with the premise
that they school as a means of
cooperative hunting", discovered they
are timid fish that schooled for
protection from their own predators,
such as cormorants, caimans, and
dolphins. Piranhas are "basically like
regular fish with large teeth".[9]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piranha
natures design…discovery…Biomaterial’s: The field of biometrics
22. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Exploration
Engineers Find Inspiration for New Materials in Piranha-proof Armour
It’s a matchup worthy of a late-night cable movie: put a
school of starving piranha and a 300-pound fish together,
and who comes out the winner?
The surprising answer—given the notorious guillotine-like
bite of the piranha—is Brazil’s massive Arapaima fish. The
secret to Arapaima’s success lie in its intricately designed
scales, which could provide “bioinspiration” for engineers
looking to develop flexible ceramics.
The inspiration for this study came from an expedition in the Amazon basin that Marc Meyers, a
professor at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego, took years ago. The mechanical
and aerospace engineering professor immediately wondered at the Arapaima’s armor-like
protective scales. How could it live in piranha-infested lakes, where no other animals could
survive?
Meyers and colleagues set up a lab experiment that pits piranha against Arapaima by using a
machine that resembles an industrial-strength hole punch. Piranha teeth were attached to the
top “punch,” which was pressed down into Arapaima scales embedded in a soft rubber surface
(which mimics the soft underlying muscle on the fish) on the lower “punch.” The teeth can
partially penetrate the scale, but crack before they can puncture the muscle, Meyers and
colleagues demonstrate in the journal Advanced Biomaterials.
The Arapaima scale combines a heavily
mineralized outer layer with an internal design
that helps the scale resist the pirahna’s razor-like
bite. The mix of materials is similar to the hard
enamel of a tooth deposited over softer dentin,
said Meyers, who also teaches nanoengineering at
the Jacobs School of Engineering “You often find
this in nature, where you have something hard on
the outside, but it rides on something softer that
gives it toughness.”
A close-up of two Arapaima scales,
overlapping as they would in nature.
It’s a combination that engineers would like to reproduce for
applications such as soldiers’ body armour, which needs to be both
tough and flexible. Other applications might include fuel cells,
insulation and aerospace designs.
Meyers is an expert in biomimetics, the study of natural materials from
living organisms and the processes that produce them. He says that
engineers are pursuing biomimetics because “we are hitting a wall, so
to speak” with conventional materials and syntheses.
!
“We have used our ingenuity to the maximum, but one way to
overcome that is to look at nature,” Meyers suggested. “The materials
that nature has at its disposal are not very strong, but nature combines
them in a very ingenious way to produce strong components and
strong designs.”
The razor-like
teeth of the
piranha trap the
skin and muscle
of its prey in a
guillotine-like
bite.
natures design…discovery…Biomaterial’s: The field of biometrics
23. Material Innovation Centre Nov. 13.14
Areas of Explorationnatures design…discovery…Biomaterial’s: The field of biometrics
Lessons from the Arapaima’s scales
!
In the case of the Arapaima, the ingeniously designed scales serve as peace
through strength, allowing them to coexist with piranha when the two are crowded
into Amazon basin lakes during the region’s dry season.
The Arapaima experiments, some of which were also published in The Journal of
the Mechanical Behaviour of Biomedical Materials, suggest a few lessons for bio-
inspired engineers:
!
Mix it up: The combination of hard and soft materials, the researchers note, give
the scales several ways to repel the bite. The scales overlap like shingles on the
fish, and each scale has a “very hefty mineralized layer on top of it,” Meyers said.
Underneath, each scale is composed of much softer collagen fibres stacked in
alternating directions like a pile of plywood.
The external surface is twice as hard as the internal layer, giving the fish a layer of
dense armour. At the same time, the structure of the internal layer lends toughness
to the scale. “As you stack the layers of fibres in this way,” Meyers explained,
“they have different orientations, which gives strength that is the same in all
directions.”
!
Texture is key: People living in the Amazon sometimes use the ridged Arapaima
scales (which can be nearly four inches in length) as nail files. The corrugated
surface keeps the scales’ thick mineralized surface intact while the fish flexes as it
swims. Ceramic surfaces of constant thickness are strained when forced to follow a
curved surface, but the corrugations allow the scales to “be bent more easily
without cracking,” Meyers said.
Freedom to move: The corrugations, the soft but tough internal layer and the
hydration of the scales all contribute to their ability to flex while remaining strong.
It’s an engineering solution that lets the fish remain mobile while heavily armoured,
and also allows the scales to bend and deform considerably before breaking.
What’s next?
!
From the abalone shell to the toucan’s beak, Meyers said, the natural world is replete
with inspiration for 21st century materials scientists. One of his next projects will
involve the scales of the alligator gar, a huge fish from the American South whose
scales were used by Native Americans as arrow tips. He recently received some
samples from Louisiana artist Dianne Ulery, who makes jewelry from the ivory-
coloured, arrowhead-shaped scales.
!
Students in his lab also are working on abalone shells and samples of leatherback
turtle skin obtained from the National History Museum in San Diego, among other
species.
In some respects, the field of biomimetics is a return to the roots of manufacturing,
Meyers suggested, when early humans crafted from leather, bone and wood. “We’ve
produced materials with much higher performance, but we’re reaching the limit with
synthetic materials,” he noted. “Now we are looking back at those natural materials
and asking, ‘how does nature put these things together’?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eurx-PN2B5w