British soldiers in the future may wear uniforms containing conductive materials. This means that a soldier no longer has to carry all kinds of batteries and cables, thereby reducing costs.
The Intelligent Textiles company has developed a patented technology in which various conductive substances are interwoven. This electrically conducting thread can be used in military uniforms. A soldier could then use a single battery to power all the hardware he carries, while a soldier is currently forced to carry multiple separate batteries and associated cables. This means that a soldier’s movement is less hindered by any type of cable, for example report BBC.
Another advantage of the conductive material in uniforms is that the equipment can still function if the uniform is damaged, because the electric current can change paths. This allows vital equipment to continue to be used, whereas currently a soldier could be in serious trouble if the cable breaks. According to Intelligent Textiles, the new uniforms could also save UK defense costs because only one type of battery is needed.
The new uniform will be tested in practice starting next May. The first ‘e-textile’ uniforms may be officially adopted by the British Armed Forces later this year. Additionally, Intelligent Textiles is still working on a keyboard that can be inserted into uniforms.
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