Intelligent Textiles

To address the U.S. Air Force (USAF) need for a fiber-integrated sensing system, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Intelligent Textile (iTex) system. This technology is based on the amalgamation of distributed optical and evanescence sensing to detect physical and chemical stresses of chemical and biological (CB) protective suits. The innovation in its system architecture offers a self-sensing feature to determine the condition or state of the damage in a CB protective suit. The iTex system enables the soldier to monitor the use and damage to a CB suit and decide whether it can be used for longer than 45 days. On the field, it enables use of these suits to an extended 150–180 days with more than 3 launderings, resulting in annual logistical cost savings of several million dollars. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of iTex by assembling a proof-of-concept demonstration of wear recording and logging in CB protective textile materials. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a fiber-integrated iTex that will reach TRL 4–5 and be ready for initial testing for potential transition to the field. BENEFIT: The iTex technology can be easily applied to the healthcare and occupational safety field in monitoring the life of the healthcare jackets or safety jackets. Various fabric-based products are available, such as the Lifeshirt by Vivometrics, Cardioshirt by NuMetrex, and Smartshirt by Sensatex. iTex technology can be used to determine the wear of such products so as to increase the accuracy of these products. Similarly, it can be used to detect chemical spills for alarming personnel working with hazardous chemicals. Military applications of the iTex will include reliable display of the physical state and effectiveness of the CB protective suit to Soldiers. This will help them in making an evidence-based decision as to when to replace the suit, rather than just relying on the manufacturer-quoted service life. The iTex can be incorporated, not only by the USAF, but also by the other military departments such as the Army and Navy into their soldier equipment which, will benefit from this proposed technology.