-SUIT

Advanced Self-Sustaining Uniform with Integrated

Telecommunications
Stephen Watt (86), Kristina Monakhova (33), Paul Kennedy (33), Ian Hill, (108), Ben Anderson (75)

Motivation

Summer 2017 Plan

Energy Harvesting Design

Next-generation soldiers will have biometric sensors

embedded within their uniforms to monitor their vitals
and warn them of chemical and biological threats. These
smart uniforms will be used in training to detect heat
stroke, monitor soldiers vitals in the field, and lower the
fog of war.
Current wearables are limited by their:
Power (1-4 days)
Range (~3 m)

June 12, 2017

Solar (150 mW)
temperature
gradient

Thermoelectric (5 mW)

Piezoelectric (3.6 mW)

Battery Storage
59 mW
Biosensors
100 W
RF transmission
20 mW
Losses (50%)
79 mW

July 3, 2017

Energy is harvested from sunlight, temperature gradients, and motion to supply enough energy to power a biosensor, transmit
data packets, and recharge a battery. The energy harvesters are redundant to provide power even if one or two of the energy
sources is missing such as during the night, in low temperature gradients, or periods of little activity.

July 17, 2017

0.20

Power (W)

0.15

Increasing the lifetime and communication range of

smart uniforms will increase their utility in the field and
enable more advanced capabilities. With widespread
use, smart uniforms could decrease training injuries
and increase a commanders situational awareness
on the battlefield.

A-SUIT makes smart military uniforms self-sustainable

through energy harvesting and textile antennas.
Thermoelectric generator

August 4, 2017

0.05
required
6am

12pm

6pm

12am

6am

12pm

6pm

12am

Worst Case (12 mWh surplus)

Activity levels (active/sedentary), thermal gradients (winter/summer), and sunshine levels (sunny/cloudy) are modeled over
24 hours for a typical day in the life of a solider stationed in Afghanistan. The resulting power generated from each energy
harvesting method (piezoelectric, thermoelectric, solar) are modeled and compared to the power required (20.1 mW). In both
the best case (active/winter/sunny) and worst case (sedentary/summer/cloudy) scenarios, there is an energy surplus
throughout the day.

Flexible Solar Panels

Textile Antenna Communications

[1]

Textile antennas increase the transmit range

by reducing inefficiencies from electrically
small antennas and increasing
power.

[3]

GPS Unit

Bio-sensors

Piezoelectric Fiber

[5]

[6]

Textile Antennas

[2]

A-SUIT concept

[4]

Features
Flexible: can support new biosensors
Low Profile: sewn right into the uniform
Versatile: uses redundant energy harvesting systems
to ensure net positive power in different conditions
Self-sustaining: provides enough energy to power all
biosensors on the uniform and charge a battery for
extended lifetime

Integrate subsystems into single A-SUIT

Incorporate OBAN sensor module from
Group 48

solar
thermoelectric

Best Case (1300 mWh surplus)

Uniform Concept

piezoelectric

0.10

0.02
0
12am

Perform life cycle tests on Energy

Harvesting subsystem
Fabricate textile antennas with MIT RLE
Characterize antenna performance with
Group 86s anechoic chamber

Power Balance
[7]

Evaluate components for the Energy

Harvesting Subsystem
Model textile antenna performance
using FEKO electromagnetic simulation
software
Measure dielectric properties of the
chosen fabrics
Characterize conductive thread loss

Operation:
UHF/VHF
Ground plane to shield
soldiers from RF
Send health data to
command station
periodically or more
frequently if soldier
is in distress.

Images: [1] http://www.cnet.com/au/pictures/wearable-devices-powered-by-body-heat-pictures [2] http://www.advancedcerametrics.com/products/energy-harvesting/piezoelectric-fiber-composites/

[3] http://news.mit.edu/2011/printable-solar-cells-0711 [4] http://www.azonano.comnews.aspx?newsID=28991 [5] http://monitorbest.elektroshop91.com/trading-monitors/timex-heart-rate-monitor-strap-28.html [6] https://www.massif.com/ [7] http://www.defense.gov/media/photo-gallery

Link Budget
Frequency
300 MHz
Distance
300 m
Transmit Power
200 mW
Transmit Gain
-7 dBi
Receive Gain
-7 dBi
Received Power
-62.5 dBm
Receiver Sensitivity
-93 dBm
SNR
30.5 dB

3m

Current Tech.

A-SUIT tech.

300m

Budget
Energy Harvesting

Textile Antenna
Copper Tape (1/2)

$7.79

Piezoelectric
Generator Kit

$660

Copper Tape (2)

$14.99

$600

Copper Tape (1/4)

$9.99

Thermoelectric
Generator

3 Ply Stainless Conductive

Thread

$6.95

2 Ply Stainless Conductive

Thread

$5.95

Army Combat Shirt

(x3)

$149.97

AmerStrand 166 Silver

Thread

$10.99

Sensor Module
(From Group 48)

$0

Liberator 40 Silver Thread

$10.99

Sewable Snap
Connectors

$3.95

U.FL Connectors

$20.40

Electronics

$75

Subtotal

$88.05

Subtotal

$228.92

Solar Panels

$400

Subtotal

$1,660

System Integration

Total: $1,977

Acknowledgments
We would like to thank our mentor, Mark Viera, as well
as Alan Fenn, Paula Collins, Brian Telfer, Joe
Lacirignola, Raoul Ouedraogo, Bill Kindred, and the rest
of the I3 Challenge staff for their help and support.