The US Navy has awarded a $22.2 million contract to two tech-science solutions companies to create new generations of smart textiles for wearable electronics and computing.
THE CONTRACT: The Naval Information Warfare Center-Pacific in San Diego announced an $11.6 million contract to Nautilus Defense and a $10.6 million contract to Leidos to meet its requirement for cloth with internally woven electrical data and power networks for its Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems (SMART ePANTS) Programme.
- The Naval Information Warfare Center-Pacific is pursuing the SMART ePANTS program on behalf of the U.S. Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) in Washington.
THE PROJECT: SMART ePANTS project will develop prototype wearable and washable garments that incorporate active smart textiles components.
- It seeks to develop active smart textile garments combining singular micro yarn textile routing system and similar smart fabric technologies with low-power electronics.
- This capability could enhance wearable electronics initiatives that seek to distribute power and data through a warfighter's clothing to run battlefield appliances like distributed computers, networked weapon sights, health sensors, and acoustic protection without wires that can snag and break.
- Using a warfighter's clothing to distribute power and data among body-worn electronics could enhance safety, enhance agility, and perhaps even reduce user fatigue.
- The project ends in January 2025.
THE STAKEHOLDERS: Nautilus is a world leader in the development and production of advanced textile-integrated systems. With a focus on dual-use technologies, Nautilus is building commercial solutions for a broad range of markets.
- Based out of San Diego, Leidos is a Fortune 500 technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets.
