Battery Efficient, Portable Heating Wearable for Air Force Pilots

Loomia's patented flexible circuit technology, the Loomia Electronic Layer (LEL), can bring functionality to fabrics of all kinds. Compared to wire-based heating, the LEL is about 20% more efficient, outputting more heat and using less power. Increased efficiency means that pilots can remain comfortable and warm in Alert Status to take immediate action, instead of freezing in the cabin during critical moments. In addition, the LEL uses completely flat wiring that does not need bulky insulation. This allows battery-efficient, wearable heating that does not create unnecessary bulk or discomfort for the wearer.   Helicopter crews that watch over Intercontinental Ballistic Missile fields in Northern bases such as Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, and F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, need heating wearables to patrol the area for long periods of time without risking exposure to frostbite.  Helicopter medical crew members’ hands must also be protected and prepared to spend extensive time in the elements at a scene. AF pilots’ gear is largely made of Nomex, a fire-resistant fabric, primarily to offer protection in the cockpit. However, this material offers little protection from the cold, which creates discomfort and thus impacts performance.     Loomia Electronic Layer technology can be customized to fit the specifications of AF personnel and incorporated into existing materials already in use (ex. Nomex) to provide heating that can prolong AF pilot performance time and decrease risk of frostbite. Gloves may be difficult to remove while on a mission and as environments change, so this project proposes a different wearable form factor that will be informed by the customer. This unique wearable heating form factor will be prototyped in Phase I and productized in Phase II if such an award is granted.