Harvard lab tapped to develop military smart suit

Courtesy Wyss Institute

A Harvard lab is developing smart clothing for U.S. military personnel under a $2.6 million defense contract.

Harvard University?s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has landed a $2.6 million contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to produce a wearable system would help improve physical endurance for military soldiers in the field.

The lightweight, nonrestrictive suit would be made from soft, wearable assistive devices that integrate several Wyss technologies, including stretchable sensors that monitor the body?s biomechanics in order to detect the onset of fatigue, the institute said in a written statement. Another feature could help the wearer maintain balance through low-level mechanical vibrations that boost the body?s sensory functions.

Based on this technology, the suit is expected to delay the onset of fatigue, enabling soldiers to walk longer distances and also potentially improve the body?s resistance to injuries when carrying heavy loads.

Wearable suits currently used by military restrict movement, possess a rigid structure and are uncomfortable. The Harvard-inspired smart suit will eliminate many of these problems and is expected to increase the stamina of soldiers, while requiring less power.

Read the full story on Masshightech.com.

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Source: http://feeds.bizjournals.com/~r/vertical_40/~3/PxQYps147_0/harvard-military-smart-suit.html

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