A major in the Army has developed electronic fiber technology that can suggest training methods tailored to the characteristics of individual combatants. It has been assessed to be sturdy enough for use on the battlefield and economical enough for mass distribution.
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 25th that a research team led by Professor Steve Park from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering has developed a flexible and wearable electronic textile (E-textile) platform through innovative technology that 'draws' electronic circuits on fibers. Notably, the development of this technology has drawn attention as it involves Doctoral student Park Gyu-soon, a current major in the Army, as the first author.
The wearable electronic textile platform created by the research team combines 3D printing technology with material engineering design to directly print sensors and electrodes onto the fibers. The technique, known as 'Direct Ink Writing (DIW),' involves spraying special ink that functions as sensors and electrodes directly onto fiber substrates in desired patterns. This method allows for flexible implementation of various designs without the complex process of mask production.
To utilize this technology, the research team developed high-performance functional ink. They created sensor ink that can stretch up to 102% while maintaining stable performance even after 10,000 repetitive tests by combining flexible styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymers with multi-walled carbon nanotubes that impart conductivity. This allows for accurate data collection even during the intense movements of combatants.
The research team validated the performance of the developed platform through actual human motion monitoring experiments. They printed the electronic textile onto key joint areas of clothing (shoulders, elbows, knees) to measure real-time movements and posture changes during various exercises such as running, broad jumps, and push-ups.
Additionally, they demonstrated the potential applications of monitoring breathing patterns using smart masks, or printing multiple sensors and electrodes on gloves for object recognition through machine learning and the perception of complex tactile information.
Major Park noted, 'Currently, our military is facing both a crisis and an opportunity due to the reduction of military resources caused by a population cliff and the advancement of science and technology.' He added, 'The respect for life on the battlefield is becoming a significant issue, and this research aims to secure foundational technology that can provide customized training based on military branch, position, and type of combat, to enhance our soldiers' combat capabilities and ensure their survivability.'
References
npj Flexible Electronics (2025), DOI : https://doi.org/10.1038/s41528-025-00414-7