The Indian Institute of Technology-Delhi (IIT-D) in collaboration with the Defence Research and Defence Organization (DRDO) are working to develop a smart, intelligent, lightweight and lower in price jacket for soldiers with unique feature and design; it is also integrated with interconnects, antennas, sensors and chips. Advanced features like signal processing chip, chemical sensor and communication chip will help soldiers in mobility, threat detection and communication.
Textile-based flexible circuit boards and multi-chip modules will be developed in the initial stage. Later, modelling, fabrication and testing of different types of radio frequency and microwave antennas on textile-based and polymeric substrates will be undertaken. Finally, several kinds of sensors will be developed and integrated into the textiles. Anuj Dhawan, Professor-in-charge of the five-year timeframe project, disclosed it is in the initial stages, but their goal is to get it operational within three years.
At IIT-D’s Joint Advanced Technology Centre (JATC) set up by DRDO where over a dozen researchers are working on the jacket in three phases at the JATC as per the IIT-D website. An official said that these features embedded in the jacket will be very help soldiers in adverse circumstance. For instance, the gas sensors will help detect gases and identify their type and through communication chips, soldiers can pass on messages and at times of emergency, inform their colleagues, or seek help.
