Through the application of artificial intelligence, specifically deep learning and computer vision, researchers from Canada have found a way for robots to decipher knitting patterns from a finished garment. This works similarly to, say, how I used AI to transcribe my handwritten notes into a Word document by uploading a photo of the notes. Yes, I’m a horrible typer, and being able to do so came in very handy. So, instead of a human expert painstakingly analyzing a knitted item, a robot with this technology can “see” the pattern and translate it into instructions for a knitting machine. This process, often called “reverse knitting,” is a significant step towards fully automated textile production.
