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US Military Invests in $320M 'Smart Fabric' Project (cnbc.com)
The U.S. Department of Defense is investing in a $320 million project to create "smart garments" that can protect soldiers while monitoring their environment -- for example, uniforms that can change color or become invisible to night-vision goggles. Other possibilities include tents which generate electricity, uniforms which detect chemical or nuclear contamination, and parachutes that can detect tearing, according to Phys.org. "Key to the plan is a technical ingredient: embedding a variety of tiny semiconductors and sensors into fabrics that can see, hear, communicate, store energy, warm or cool a person or monitor the wearer's health," reports the New York Times, calling it "a new frontier for the Internet of Things." The Pentagon is joining more than 30 universities, 49 companies (including Intel) and the state governments of Massachusetts and Georgia, and they're hoping the "Advanced Functional Fabrics of America" project establishes two dozen incubators for startups and creates 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years by streamlining the implementation of the smart fabrics in America's textile mills.
America has textile mills???
I thought all of those had been sent overseas, well at least we have the empty buildings and an aging workforce, maybe they will be less inclined to ship it overseas if the process is top secret...
We have already seen $300 hammers. Now shirts will be $1000. I am sure they have made sure the budget allows for such things right?
I'm not opposed to these ideas, but when it the last time the military brought in a project with even reasonable success at a reasonable price? This will turn into the usual boondoggle of hey look at us... We spent $3 billion on a research tent that is able to generate electricity about 6% of the time, but sometimes it explodes. Abandoning the project now... Thanks for the funding! Keep it coming!
In times of ever-increasing worker productivity (and a corresponding decrease in available jobs) the only credible job motor seems to be military (euphemistically called "defense") industry.
So the way out of the current job crisis seems to be more and more arms? Instead of rejoicing that machines are taking over stupid tasks and enjoing a bit more of free time?
This is very scary.
in more lethal weaponry, although stealth against night vision goggles would be useful.
an ill wind that blows no good
It really sounds like a total gimmick to suck up lots more taxpayer's dollars. I'll stick with my dumb cloths thanks.
Night vision systems are about get a significant update, so the textile engineers might want to consider going full chameleon on that garment.
They will make uniforms and a "sharp" E-9 will starch the hell out of it to get razor sleeves. LOL
Spending money to make your basic mass produced items cost a fortune. Smart fabric indeed.
parachutes that can detect tearing
I suppose it might give a few more seconds to cut loose and deploy a backup. But mostly I expect it would be used send a signal where to start digging to find the body.
"and parachutes that can detect tearing,"
My parachute alerts me to tearing by reaching terminal velocity.
How the Project is Sold to Politicians for Funding:
"they're hoping the "Advanced Functional Fabrics of America" project establishes two dozen incubators for startups and creates 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years by streamlining the implementation of the smart fabrics in America's textile mills."
What will actually be accomplished 10 years later:
"After wasting another 320 million dollars to essentially no effect, the Pentagon was today forced to acknowledge that the "Advance Functional Fabrics of America" project, which began with such high hopes, was instead a complete flop. Nothing useful was created and none of the 10 jobs that were created over the course of 10 years are still around. The cost of this failure will be added to the bill that we hand our children."
uniforms that can change color or become invisible to night-vision goggles.
"Hello user, this is your parachute. I have detected a tear forming. I am pleased to be able to warn you of this matter. I suggest that you now pray for divine intervention and accept *insert the user's probable diety's name here* into your heart as you are now 30.4 seconds from becoming a part of the landscape. Thankyou for using Acme Corporation products and we wish you all the best in the rest of your life. You now have 10 seconds, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1..."
"Hello user, this is your combat uniform here. I have detected major injuries including but not limited to, multiple third degree fractures in both legs, multiple shattered vertebrae, four major and multiple minor skull fractures and major blood loss. As I have detected that you may have lost consciousness, I have informed the appropriate authorities about your current location and condition. I am now detected a loss of blood flow in your extremities and a slowing heart bea-"
"Hello user, this is your advanced tactical combat sensory interface. I have detected imminent death in your future. Would you like me to simulate last rites or the appropriate ritual for your religion? Your records show that you are an atheist but command has informed me that datamining has shown that you are a lapsed Christian. As you are now lacking the ability to respond, I will go ahead and perform last rites for you. If you still have function of your eyes you would now see a simulated priest kneeling over you performing this rite. Thankyou for using the Cyberdyne Advanced Combat Sensory Interface. We value the satisfaction of our users, would you like to fill out a brief survey before you leave this mortal plane?"
I can see the story now:
Colonel: Sergeant, where is Johnson?
Sergeant: Sir, Johnson deployed with us to the combat zone, with full suit battery. At approximately 17:00 Zulu his armor rebooted for updates and an enemy combatant targeted his de-camoed pattern. We can only suspect, sir, that Johson forgot to disable OTA updates for his BioWear 1.0.20160821 Electronic Armored Uniform (TM).