The SmartCap, an invention by Australian-based research organization CRC Mining to detect fatigue of truck drivers working on mining operations, is fitted with hi-tech brain monitoring sensors.

Invented by CRCMining engineer Dr Daniel Bongers, the SmartCap, a baseball cap with integrated EEG (brain waves) sensors that he developed do not need conductive gel but work through hair, determining an individual’s fatigue level.

The brain wave data are recorded and communicated using a wireless Bluetooth link to alert the driver and supervising station.

Fatigue at work, especially during nightshift and among long distance driver is a long standing problem, causing injuries and even deaths every year.

This unique EEG sensor which can be integrated into a cap is the least intrusive form of ensuring that drivers will use this monitoring concept.

A series of test that began in 2008 have shown the reliability and accurate of Dr Daniel Bongers SmartCap development. Further testing is carried out at this moment at the CRCMining operation to solidify the reliability.

The interest into wearable, sensible technologies attract the most innovative minds creating solutions to problems that have been considered as ‘given’ with no real idea how to solve it.

How many times has been the question raised of the usefulness of investigating into wearable technologies. The SmartCap from Dr Daniel Bongers is an excellent example to demonstrate the strength of merging clothing and technology.

[source: ACARP]

Scientist at the Dublin City University develop intelligent clothing for firefighters with sensors woven into the fabric.

Technologies based on the use of e-textiles with wearable sensors will monitor the heart beat, breathing rate, the level of sweat, stress and dehydration as well as the location of the men in the danger zone via GPS.

The firefighters’ jackets and boots will also be fitted with sensors able to detect the level of carbon dioxide threatening the fire fighter.

For professional clothing like for firefighters it is of great advantage to have as many data about the people on ground zero to make sure they are not getting in danger themselves but be able to save and rescue others.

Wearable, work wear integrated systems provide the benefit of being unobtrusive  as the technology does not get into the way while the sensors are close enough to the body to pick up all the required data accurately.

Dublin City University and this smart firefighter gear development is part of the ‘ProeTEX‘ project, a pan-European research effort involving 23 partners to develop innovative new ‘second skin’ sensors coupled with wireless communication and GPS.

The laboratory testing of this project has been very successful and it is up to the point of finding industrial partners to carry it through the manufacturing to make it available for our fire departments as soon as possible.

[source: Irish Times]

Another highly interesting company I have visited during the TechTextile is ITL (Intelligent Textiles Limited) a UK based research and development company founded in 2002 specialized in the weaving of complex electrical circuits in conductive fabrics.

Starting in the traditional application areas of consumer apparel (eg. wearable music player and phone controllers), healthcare (eg. biomonitoring) and flexible heating (eg. heated gloves), the company has recently become a specialist in the defence and first-responder arenas with the development of fabric personal-area-networks that reduce the burden of conventional power cables and data connections in digital soldier systems.

ITL has three basic lines of solutions: ‘detect’, a e-textile sensors for input functions like remote controls or keyboards, ‘heat’ to integrate low voltage heating elements into woven fabric and ‘connect’, a damage tolerant, e-textile based connection network between other e-textile components in a wearable electronic system.

ITL’s e-Textile components are made by integrating a grid of electrically conductive yarn during the weaving process, allowing a large scale, cost efficient yet highly durable e-textile fabric production.

The weaving process offers the high potential of lower production costs leading to a potentially lower component cost for e-textile systems.

e-Textile solutions like ITL is offering make life easier for the professionals and will help to pave the way for more durable solutions to become available for the consumer market.

Intelligent clothing is not only a cool ‘must have’ for our fashion outfit but has added value in professional clothing as well. The most innovative use of Smart Textiles is a Firefighter jacket = ‘Turnout Gear‘ in professional speak, with integrated Thermal Sensor Technology (TST) directly into the fabric.

This innovative Turnout Gear is made by VIKING, originated in Denmark and a global market leader in maritime and fire safety equipment. Their Turnout Gear is used by professional fire-fighters across the globe.

How does it work?

The difference between pain and second degree burn is a mere 54ºF (12ºC) increase in skin temperature.

Integrating thermal sensor technology directly to the fabric layers gives the advantage to visually indicate critical heat levels to the firefighter in action and his colleagues before it’s too late.

The thermal sensors are integrated into the inner and outer layers of the coat to monitor the outer temperature near the fire-fighter and on the inside of the coat close to the body. The sensors are attached to two LED displays, on the sleeve and one on the back.

The LED display on the upper left shoulder is visible to other fire-fighters on the team and indicates potentially critical situations. The LED display on the lower sleeve indicates dangerous heat levels both inside and outside the turnout gear.

A small box in the inner liner of the coat contains a battery and a control chip that calculates the temperature and activates the LED displays. The sensors are covered in flexible waterproof plastic to protect against fluids.

When the outer temperature reaches about 482ºF (250ºC) the outer circle on the display begins to flash slowly. At 662ºF (350ºC) the display light flashes rapidly. When the temperature inside the garment reaches about 122ºF (50ºC) the long line on the display begins to flash slowly and at 156ºF (67ºC) the display light flashes rapidly because when the inside of the coat near the skin reaches 174ºF (79ºC) the situation is critical.

All components meet current standards for use on NFPA fire-fighting equipment. The microelectronics is durable and can withstand at least 25 wash cycles.

The only thing needed before cleaning is to remove the battery from a pocket in the liner. No maintenance is required – only the battery needs to be changed.

This Turnout Gear from Viking is a excellent example that demonstrates the potential and the high value Smart Textiles made into Intelligent Clothing have.