SAN DIEGO – U.S. Navy researchers needed cloth with internally woven electrical data and power networks to create new generations of smart textiles for wearable electronics and computing. They found their solution from Nautilus Defense LLC in Pawtucket, R.I., and Leidos Inc. in San Diego
Officials of the Naval Information Warfare Center-Pacific in San Diego on Wednesday announced an $11.6 million contract to Nautilus Defense and a $10.6 million contract to Leidos for the Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems (SMART ePANTS) Program) program.
SMART ePANTS seeks to develop active smart textile garments combining the singular micro yarn textile routing system and similar smart fabric technologies with low-power electronics. The project will develop prototype wearable and washable garments that incorporate active smart textiles components.
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Nautilus and Leidos have expertise in systems integration that enables the transparent integration of electrical data and power networks, distributed sensor systems, and antenna arrays within traditional textile structures.
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 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.
On this contract, Nautilus Defense will do the work in Pawtucket, R.I., and should be finished by January 2025. Leidos will do the work in San Diego; Bloomfield, Conn.; Lexington, Mass.; and Charleston, S.C., and should be finished by January 2025. For more information contact Nautilus Defense online at www.nautilusdefense.com, Leidos at www.leidos.com, the Naval Information Warfare Center-Pacific at www.niwcpacific.navy.mil, or IARPA at www.iarpa.gov.
