{"id":1537,"date":"2021-11-25T14:10:32","date_gmt":"2021-11-25T13:10:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/?p=1537"},"modified":"2021-12-14T14:10:49","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T13:10:49","slug":"ai-helps-this-face-mask-adapt-to-exercise-and-pollution-levels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/uk\/2021\/11\/25\/ai-helps-this-face-mask-adapt-to-exercise-and-pollution-levels\/","title":{"rendered":"AI Helps This Face Mask Adapt to Exercise and Pollution Levels"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the pandemic, many cyclists have experienced wearing face masks to protect themselves and others. We know it\u2019s not always comfortable, especially when it comes to exercising in a mask. Thankfully, new research is showing promise. There\u2019s now a mask that can adapt to changing conditions, such as exercise or air pollution levels, allowing you to breathe easier when possible.<\/strong>
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In search of a personal respirator<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Face masks protect against the spread of COVID-19 but are also worn to filter out harmful pollutants. The issue is that the exhaled breath can create sensations of heat, humidity, bad breath and discomfort, especially during prolonged exercise. An international team of researchers headed by Seung Hwan Ko<\/a> wanted to make a respirator that could automatically adjust its filtration characteristics in response to changing conditions.<\/p>\n

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A dynamic respirator changes its pore size in response to changing conditions, making it easier for the wearer to breathe; clear tubing connects the mask to a portable device that communicates with a computer.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“The recent emergence of highly contg<\/span>aious respiratory disease and the underlying issues of worldwide air pollution jointly heighten the importance of the personal respirator,” the researchers explain the motivation for their project.<\/p>\n

Dynamic air filter<\/strong><\/h2>\n

To address the issue, the researchers introduced adaptive respiratory protection based on a dynamic air filter driven by machine-learning algorithms. The filter has micropores that expand when stretched, allowing more air to pass through. They achieved a large increase in the breathability of the filter with only about a 6% loss in filtration efficiency. The filter is connected to a portable device containing a sensor, air pump and microcontroller chip. It communicates wirelessly with an external computer running AI software that reacts to particulate matter in the air, as well as changes in the wearer’s respiratory patterns during exercise.<\/p>\n

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