Specialty Fabrics Review September 2022 - 78

[ MARKETS ] ADVANCED TEXTILES
defining what has already been
accomplished, which proposals will
have to go beyond.
" The government does not want to
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pay twice for the technology we have
already developed, so we are making
existing technologies [in a generic way]
available to anybody working on the
program, " Racz says.
One goal has been to engage people
and companies that haven't already
been working in this field. " They may
have an idea for one part of it, but
that's all they have, " she says. IARPA's
program is designed to get people to
work together.
In order to maintain impartiality,
the Test and Evaluation Team was
not allowed to help build performer
teams, but a summer workshop gave
interested participants a means to
introduce their capabilities. Proposers,
in fact, will have to work in teams, as
single entities do not have all the pieces
needed, Racz explained.
The timeline
The BAA (Broad Agency Announcement)
was published in July, and
IARPA worked with AFFOA and
Lincoln Laboratory to present an
open house that month to showcase
the technologies available to selected
performers. Proposals were due in September,
and people will be under contract
by " early next year, " says Cagle.
The first 18 months of the program
will be the " proof of concept " or " build
it " phase, where the teams demonstrate
the viability of the assembled components
with which they intend to work.
A 12-month " wear it " phase follows,
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when all the components for the smart
textile will be woven, knit or otherwise
incorporated into a garment. At this
point, the garment will be tested
for comfort and durability, and to
determine how well the electronics
function. The final 12 months are the
" wash it " phase.
" Washing electronics has never been
done as an entire unit, " Cagle says. " This
would be something new. We want to
be sure it maintains functionalities that
resemble a regular garment. "
Visit Textiles.org/MarineConference to learn more
To learn more
The IARPA website offers information
about the program. IARPA did not
put a limit on the number of teams
that it funded, and unlike most U.S.
government funding agencies, was also
open to international teams. " We are
looking for the best technology in the
world, " Cagle says.
Janet Preus is senior editor of Textile Technology.
She can be reached at janet.preus@textiles.org.
78 SPECIALTY FABRICS REVIEW / September 2022
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