Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems Program Launches

摘要

Canadian startup OMsignal has introduced a range of smart sports shirts that monitor the wearer's heart rate, breathing and movement, and then use Bluetooth LE to send the collected data to their smartphone for real-time analysis. The Naval Information Warfare Center, Pacific (NIWC Pacific), on behalf of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), is soliciting proposals under a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for the new Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems (SMART ePANTS) program. IARPA, the funding agency for the program, invests in high-risk, high-payoff research programs to tackle some of the most difficult challenges of the agencies and disciplines in the Intelligence Community (IC). It aims to push the boundaries of science to develop solutions that empower the IC to do its work better and more efficiently for national security. The goal of SMART ePANTS is to develop Advanced Smart Textile (AST)-based garments with the ability to record audio, video and location information experienced by the wearer. These garments should also be comfortable, durable and washable, just like regular clothing. By weaving these devices directly into garments, IC staff will be able to record information from their environment hands-free, without the need to wear uncomfortable, bulky, and rigid devices. As a result, personnel will have greater range of motion, thus improving their response time in challenging circumstances.