Modular Enhanced Systemic Hardware Network

Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new wearable "smart" electrical connector--and associated connector system--in the form of a Modular Enhanced Systemic Hardware Network (MESHNet), which for the first time integrates electronics into military vests and protective clothing in a body-conformable and comfortable fashion. POC's Multioperational Snap-Fastener Fabric Integrated (MOSFI) wearable/smart connector terminates the U.S. Army Natick narrow fabric cable. It has three unique features: wearability, that is compatible with existing and future military/civilian vests/uniforms; button-like snap-fastener that one can snap and unsnap "blindly" with only one hand; resilience to harsh temperature/humidity, chemicals, water, and laundering. In Phase I, POC designed and fabricated two progressive laboratory prototypes one in which the sealing mechanism was based on an O-ring and the other on conductive elastomer. In Phase II POC will demonstrate capability to mass-produce MESHNet/MOSFI connectors by advanced molding.