Intelligent Textile System

In Phase II, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to advance the development of the Intelligent Textile (iTex) system proven feasible in Phase I in meeting Air Force needs for fiber/textile-integrated detection of point-of-failure of chemical-biological (CB) protective equipment. In Phase I, we conclusively demonstrated the feasibility of the iTex system by theoretical analysis, simulations, and assembling and testing a technology readiness level (TRL)-4 proof-of-concept prototype. A <20 oz <100 mW TRL 4 iTex prototype was integrated into a real JSLIST suite (electrical and optical sensing patches with integrated fabric-mounted miniaturized electronics). Testing of this prototype clearly demonstrated the detection of environmental parameters (physical stress, temperature, humidity, and liquid/gas contaminants) with preliminary embedded software for determination of remaining useful life estimation (RULE) and end of service life indicator (ESLI, visibly recognizable to the naked eye). In Phase II POC will optimize the system design to achieve the RULE/ESLI with 1-year operation without battery replacement via improved fiber-optic network designs and low-power electronics. A fully integrated prototype with improved decision-making processing will be integrated into a representative CB protection platform (i.e., JSLIST). Extensive calibration, testing, and evaluation of reliability will be conducted to achieve TRL-6+. BENEFIT: Military applications of the iTex technology will include reliable display of the physical state and effectiveness of the CB protective suit to the soldiers. It can be modified to monitor the state of critical and fragile military equipment that is sensitive to chemicals or physical stress. iTex can be incorporated not only by the Air Force but also by the other military departments such as the Army and Navy into their soldier equipment, which will benefit from this proposed technology. It can be acquired by the Army under its Program Executive Office Soldier, which purchases advanced soldier equipment. Commercial applications of the iTex system include applications in the healthcare and occupational safety field in monitoring the life of the healthcare jackets or safety jackets. It can be used to provide real-time nondestructive evaluation (NDE) and condition-based maintenance (CBM) for almost all equipment and facilities of which integrity and usage depend on environmental parameters and chemical and physical stresses.