Interactive Textiles Front End Analysis. Phase 1

摘要

A Front End Analysis (FEA) was initiated to identify Interactive Textiles that could be used by the Soldier Systems Center - Natick (SSC-N) for the improvement of Soldier System warfighter materiel. Phase I focused on the Sensate Liner, which is a garment constructed to detect the location of a wound in the torso by means of a conductive fiber grid sewn into a 't-shirt'. The garment would, using attached acoustic sensors, also indicate the type and path of the projectile that penetrated the torso. Future Operational Capabilities were reviewed. A survey was developed to collect judgements of combat effectiveness, mission relevance, technical feasibility, and risk criteria. These data were used to arrive at a Figure of Merit (FoM) which was then related to management alternatives. The value of the FoM fell in the 'Monitor Program' alternative range. Major conclusions from this analysis were: (1) Future Operational Capabilities support a number of alternatives relating to casualty care and tele-medicine concepts; and (2) The FoM falls into a range of values corresponding to Management actions of monitoring or consulting. Recommendations were: (1) that SSC-N monitor progress of the Sensate Liner project and (2) conduct Phase II of the FEA.