British soldiers may soon have electrically conductive yarn woven directly into their uniforms, allowing a single central power source to provide electricity throughout the uniform. This would replace individual batteries and cables for devices, making recharging easier with just one battery instead of multiple ones. The company plans to do field tests in May and hopes to have limited use of the smart fabric uniforms by the end of 2012, but widespread adoption is more likely in 2014 or 2015. The fabric can power devices anywhere in the uniform without cables through a "ring main" system and is being integrated into vests, shirts, helmets, backpacks, and gloves.

1. Soldier’s New
Uniform
By: Zachary Seppala

2. • British soldiers' uniforms could
soon use electrically conducting
yarn woven directly into the
clothing, replacing cumbersome
batteries and cabling.
• The "e-textiles" could provide
uniforms with a single, central
power source.
• This would allow soldiers to
recharge one battery instead of
many and cut the number of
cables required in their kit.
Smart Fabric For New
Soldier Uniform

3. • The company is planning
to carry out field trials in
May and the system could
see some limited use by
the end of the year. But it
is likely to be 2014 or
2015 before the
lightweight uniforms see
more widespread use.
Fields Tests

4. • "We have a ring main that
allows us to power data
wherever we want it to go. We
can send power up to the
helmet without it being
tethered.“
• Also being developed is a
fabric keyboard for use with a
portable computer that will be
integrated with the uniform.
What It Can Do

5. • “Plug-and-play" connectors used in the current uniform
prototype are for demonstration and are unlikely to be the ones
used in a finished product.
• We've got the fabric integrated into the vest, into the shirt, into
the helmet, the backpack, and into the glove and weapons
platform," said Ms. Thompson.
What It Can Do

6. http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17580666
http://www.manufacturingdigital.com/innovators/intelligent-
textiles-showcase-intelligent-uniforms.
Sources