American intelligence agencies are introducing smart clothing.
The American intelligence agency IARPA (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity) announced the start of work on a project to create smart clothing with flexible electronics.
The project is called SMART ePANTS (Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems) and provides for the largest investment at the moment, according to IARPA, for the development of "smart textiles" that feel and function like any piece of clothing. To do this, the developers plan to create " electronics that will stretch, bend and lend themselves to washing, like ordinary clothes."
The result of this initiative will be stylish and reliable clothing, ready-to-wear, capable of recording audio, video and geolocation data. Such clothing will be provided to employees of the US Intelligence Service, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The clothing is expected to help agency personnel and first responders in dangerous and stressful situations without affecting their ability to act quickly.
As part of the project, IARPA has signed contracts with several organizations, in particular:
The agency plans to present the results of the SMART ePANTS program in 42 months.
The American intelligence agency IARPA (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity) announced the start of work on a project to create smart clothing with flexible electronics.
The project is called SMART ePANTS (Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems) and provides for the largest investment at the moment, according to IARPA, for the development of "smart textiles" that feel and function like any piece of clothing. To do this, the developers plan to create " electronics that will stretch, bend and lend themselves to washing, like ordinary clothes."
The result of this initiative will be stylish and reliable clothing, ready-to-wear, capable of recording audio, video and geolocation data. Such clothing will be provided to employees of the US Intelligence Service, the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The clothing is expected to help agency personnel and first responders in dangerous and stressful situations without affecting their ability to act quickly.
As part of the project, IARPA has signed contracts with several organizations, in particular:
- SRI International — a non-profit research institute;
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology;
- Nautilus Defense — a company that manufactures integrated systems made of textiles and composites;
- Leidos is an IT company operating in the defense and energy sectors;
- Areté is a research company.
The agency plans to present the results of the SMART ePANTS program in 42 months.
