Core Technology
What is Fabric Muscle?
Fabric Muscle is an artificial muscle actuator made by processing shape memory alloy (SMA) — thinner than human hair — into coil-shaped threads, then weaving them like fabric.
When electric current flows, the SMA contracts like a muscle as it tries to return to its original shape. A palm-sized piece (about 6.6g) can generate force up to 1,500 times its own weight.
This implements the working principle of the sarcomere — the basic contractile unit of muscle — in textile form. The name SARTEXO itself originates from this technology.
The product built with this Fabric Muscle technology is SARTEXO's clothing-type wearable robot, Bionic Suit.
Shape Memory Alloy Wire
SMA Wire
Ultra-fine SMA wire, 1/4 the thickness of human hair (25–40μm).
Coiling & Weaving
Coil & Weave
The wire is processed into coil spring thread, then woven like fabric into a planar actuator.
Contract & Relax
Works Like a Muscle
Contracts when current flows, relaxes when it stops — the fabric itself works like a muscle.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing process
Shape-memory-alloy wire thinner than a hair is processed into coil yarn, and the yarn is woven like fabric. All three steps run continuously on the automated loom.
01
Shape Memory Alloy
Ultra-fine SMA wire, 1/4 the thickness of human hair (25–40μm)
02
Coil Thread Processing
SMA wire converted into coil-shaped artificial muscle thread
03
Fabric Weaving
Coil threads woven like fabric to create a planar actuator
Mass Production
Opening the Era of Mass Production with Auto-Weaving
In 2025, we developed an automated weaving machine capable of continuous mass production of Fabric Muscle.
Previously, metal core threads limited elongation. We solved this by replacing them with natural fiber core threads.
This achieved manufacturing economics viable for mass production, laying the foundation for dramatically reducing wearable robot prices.
Continuous
Auto-weaving method
Natural Fiber
Core thread material
Mass Production
Manufacturing economics
Fabric Muscle Performance
Fabric Muscle performance
Properties confirmed at the material level, shown with demo videos in the order contraction → actuation speed.
40% contraction · 10 kg load
Fabric Muscle contracts over 40% of its length while lifting 10 kg — approaching the contraction ratio of human muscle.
2 Hz high-speed actuation · 10 kg load
A 10 g actuator drives a 10 kg load at 2 Hz — response speed matching a full sprint. In this demo, a 10 g actuator lifts 10 kg (1,000× its weight). Maximum capacity reaches 1,500×.
25~40 µm
SMA wire diameter
A quarter to a half of a human hair
Up to 1,500×
Strength-to-weight
Maximum load ratio to its own weight (test maximum)
10~15 kg
Lift per 10 g
With just 10 g of Fabric Muscle
40%
Contraction ratio
Of its own length — close to human muscle
2 Hz
Actuation speed
Driving a 10 kg load twice per second
In the demo videos a 10 g actuator lifts 10 kg (1,000× its weight). The maximum load ratio is 1,500×.
Cut and sewn like ordinary fabric
Fabric Muscle can be cut with scissors and sewn on a standard sewing machine. It requires no dedicated robot assembly line — existing garment factories can produce it as is.
From Fabric Muscle to Bionic Suit
From Fabric Muscle to the suit
Cut and sewn into garment form, this Fabric Muscle becomes SARTEXO's clothing-type strength-assist suit, the Bionic Suit. One core material extends to four products by assisted body part and to standalone actuators.
Fabric Muscle
The core Fabric Muscle technology
Product Line
Bionic Suit
Waist · Upper · Lower · Full — a lineup by assisted region
- Bionic Suit Waist
- Bionic Suit Upper
- Bionic Suit Lower
- Bionic Suit Full
Component Supply
Fabric Muscle Actuators
Standalone actuators for research institutes and companies
- Actuator modules for research
- Evaluation samples for industry
We support both standard sizing and custom design, and our automated weaving equipment enables mass production.
Bionic Suit Technology
Bionic Suit technology
What sets Fabric Muscle apart once it becomes a product, and how it has been validated.
The 4th Approach
The Fourth Approach: Fabric Muscle
There are three major approaches to wearable robots. SARTEXO presents a fourth approach that belongs to none of them.
Rigid Exoskeleton
Rigid Exoskeleton
Metal frame + motor. Provides strong force but is heavy and uncomfortable to wear.
Heavy & uncomfortable
Cable-driven Soft Suit
Cable-driven Soft Suit
Motor + Bowden cable to assist joints. Relatively lightweight but has motor noise and joint limitations.
Motor noise, limited joints
Passive Suit
Passive Suit
Assists with springs and elastic materials without active power. Light but cannot be actively controlled.
No active control
SARTEXO — Fabric Muscle
The fabric itself is the actuator. A fundamentally new approach with no motors, no cables, and no exoskeleton.
- Soft + lightweight + multi-joint simultaneous assist — a unique combination worldwide
- The fabric itself is the actuator, eliminating the need for separate power transmission
- Silent and vibration-free, suitable for both daily life and work environments
Conventional Tech vs Fabric Muscle
A paradigm shift from rigid exoskeletons to soft, clothing-type robots
| Category | Conventional Exoskeleton | Fabric Muscle Based |
|---|---|---|
| Actuator | Motor, pneumatic | SMA woven fabric |
| Form | Rigid exoskeleton (Iron Man) | Soft clothing-type (Spider-Man) |
| Weight | Several kg to tens of kg | Under 2kg |
| Noise | Motor noise present | Silent |
| Assisted Joints | Limited to some joints | 3 joints simultaneously |
| Price | Hundreds to thousands of USD | About 1/10 of global competitors' pricing |
| Comfort | Uncomfortable | Natural like clothing |
840 g
Shoulder-assist suit weight
Total robot weight
Under 2 kg
Integrated 3-joint suit weight
Waist, shoulder and elbow assisted together (Full)
57%
Shoulder range-of-motion gain
Seoul National University Hospital clinical trial — shoulder range with the upper-body assist
40%
Less muscle activity (suit effect)
Repetitive lifting at industrial sites, 10 kg load — a different figure from the 40% material contraction
Competitive Position
Competitive Positioning
The wearable robot landscape by weight and form factor — SARTEXO uniquely occupies the lightweight, soft quadrant.
Get Started
Ready to Work With Us?
Product adoption, pilot requests, technology partnership — start the conversation with SARTEXO.