Modular Enhanced Systemic Hardware Network

The U.S. Army is seeking a wearable, ergonomically-designed wearable electronic network to be integrated into military protective clothing. To meet this Army need, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Modular Enhanced Systemic Hardware Network (MESHNet) to be integrated into an existing MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) vest. The MESHNet will comprise wearable connectors, embedded cables, a wearable internal antenna, and a tactile sense subsystem. MESHNet will be fully compatible with existing military hardware, and will reduce procurement and logistics costs. MESHNet will integrate body-conformable optical/electrical connectors with the POC developed WITS (wired integrated textile seams) and embedded fiber routing system, wires and optical fibers in the fabric seams along the natural contours of the body. The wearable snap-fastener will interconnect POC's universal sensor interface module (USIM) with the MESHNet system at any access point within the system without any manual configuration so the dismounted soldier can affix any type of sensor that has been USIM-enabled to any part of the MESHNet system.