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EDA produces multifunctional smart textile prototype

05 Jun '20

4 min read

Pic: European Defence Agency

A European Defence Agency project on smart textiles has resulted in a multifunctional smart textile prototype - the first of this type and quality in Europe – which has several features required by the defence sector. It has been found to provide multispectral camouflage, detection of hazardous agents, anti-mosquito solutions, and physiological monitoring.

Smart textiles are a new generation of innovative material with interesting multifunctional properties such as being integrable into uniforms and platforms. They, therefore, have drawn the attention of the defence sector.

From June 2020, the prototype will be further tested in the field to make sure that it fulfils the stringent military requirements. At the end of the project, expected in May 2021, an exhibition centre will be organised to reveal the fully tested model to the European defence and dual-use community, reaching out the potential users in the European Ministries of Defence.

The European Defence Agency has incorporated smart textiles into the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) of its capability technology group (CapTech) devoted to materials and structures. A specific Technology Building Block (TBB) has been set up for the purpose. Other EDA CapTechs, such as those dealing with CBRN, human factors and ground systems, have taken initiatives related to smart textiles.

In January 2019, EDA launched a project on “Smart TextILEs in defence: looking at the soldiers of the future” with two participating member states, Spain and Portugal. The practical implementation of this project, called STILE, was assigned to a consortium led by the Spanish research institute AITEX, in collaboration with two Portuguese organisations, CITEVE and INEGI.

The objective of STILE was to lay the foundation for a future ‘European Multifunctional Smart Textile’ for defence, able to respond to a certain number of requirements in terms of functionality, integration, comfort and weight. It was aimed to define a roadmap for developing a system offering several functionalities in a textile substrate, and to come up with a proof of concept that integrates various functionalities with state-of-the-art technologies.

The initial analysis undertaken under the project confirmed that Europe lacks multifunctional smart textile capabilities in defence. Hence the STILE project was important to produce a proof of concept of multifunctional smart textiles able to integrate in a single model all the required features.

Preliminary results of the project give an overview of the current R and T development and technology needs as well as the challenges ahead to overcome those needs. The methodology used was based on the technical knowledge of the consortium members and the collection of data from multiple sources, including a technology foresight workshop on smart textile technologies organised at EDA, a survey done among the agency’s ‘Materials’ CapTech experts as well as various meetings with experts.

A medium to long-term technology roadmap was established with a set of actions required to develop an innovative smart textile for future defence applications, including the incorporation of modern design and development methodology by the textile industry. For this purpose, two simulation models were developed to evaluate the main concepts regarding the thermal protection capacity of the garment and the thermal signature under different ambient conditions.

As a first step of the roadmap, a multifunctional smart textile prototype - the first of this type and quality in Europe – was produced with several features which have been tested.

The prototype was found to give multispectral camouflage in both static and moving positions helping in signature management. It scored on CBR threats monitoring since it was able to detect the presence of hazardous agents (eg H2S, NO2, Cl2) and provided a warning to the soldier. The textile improved mobility, using various textile structures as well as seamless technology in body mapping concept. It also provided flame retardancy, water and dirt repellence and anti-mosquito solutions.

The smart textile helped in physiological monitoring by measuring the heart rate and providing info to the soldier. The smart textile provided all parameters, such as the heart rate, to the soldier via an app in the smartphone, embedded in the system. The data could be transferred to the operating centre, if needed. It controlled the body temperature through monitoring of the ambient temperature.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)