An eTextile-Enabled Personal Area Network (EPAN) for the Warfighter

Through programs such as the US Army’s Nett Warrior and Air Soldier, significant power and data management capabilities are being developed to help manage body-borne warfighter electronics. While these enhanced capabilities will, ultimately, make the warfighter more informed, capable and lethal, they present some significant challenges for system wearability, comfort and performance, including integration with currently issued body armor vests and plate carriers. Nowhere is this challenge more magnified than in the area of electronic cables and connectors. In reality, the addition of these enhanced C4I capabilities are driving the requirement for a new ensemble-integrated Personal Area Network (PAN) to better accommodate and integrate these devices on the body. To meet this critical need, Human Systems Integration, Inc. (HSI), a leading developer of Wearable Electronics products and solutions, will develop and implement a new PAN system to ergonomically, ruggedly and reliably interconnect the complex electronic functionality of the modern warfighter ensemble. Based on our advancements in the area of eTextiles, the primary goal of this program is to accelerate the implementation of an ensemble-integrated warfighter eTextile PAN (ePAN).