Special smart fabric designed for the military

BBC : A new lightweight military uniform was showcased recently at an event organized by the UK’s Centre for Defence Enterprise , which funds research into novel high-risk innovations with high potential benefits to the defense industry. Made with electrically conducting fibers, the e-textile used in the uniform would allow the wearer to carry a single, centralized battery pack rather than separate batteries for each piece of equipment carried. Also, because conductive cables are integrated into the fabric, fewer external cables are required. “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 Asha Thompson, director of Intelligent Textiles, which produces the product. The next step is to field test the uniforms to make sure they don’t rust or short-circuit and they will work with older equipment still in use.