HAVOC-Wear Phase 2 Sequential

LLume proposes the development of an integrated physiological monitoring combat shirt using its proprietary Light Lace® fiberoptic sensor technology. This soft, stretchable sensing platform enables continuous, real-time monitoring of critical physiological metrics—respiration rate, ventilation, and VO?—without requiring direct skin contact, masks, or external chest straps. By embedding the sensors directly into the fabric of standard military uniforms, this system offers a frictionless, durable solution that aligns with Army modernization goals in human performance, health monitoring, and soldier survivability.The proposed effort builds on a successfully completed SBIR Phase II. This 24-month Sequential Phase II will focus on scaling sensor placement, refining embedded algorithms to support soldier-specific movements, optimizing the hardware packaging for rugged field conditions, and ensuring secure communication with Army data systems. The final deliverable will be a field-ready, wearable system capable of providing high-fidelity physiological data to commanders, medics, and researchers in both training and operational environments.This capability represents a significant advancement over existing wearables, which are typically bulky, require frequent manual interaction, or fail under real-world movement and environmental stress. By leveraging high-speed optical sensing and fabric-level integration, the LLume platform enables passive, reliable data capture under real combat and training conditions.The benefits extend beyond military applications. The same underlying technology is adaptable to the sports, occupational safety, and healthcare markets, where real-time respiratory and cardiovascular monitoring is increasingly in demand but limited by current wearable form factors. The LLume combat shirt project will demonstrate the feasibility, scalability, and mission value of fabric-integrated biometrics and set the stage for broader DoD deployment and dual-use commercialization.