Robert Rix from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has created a high conductivity carbonised-fibre material called Gorix. The material is highly conductive and is able to regulate its own temperature without a thermostat. It does this by sensing how much voltage it is taking from a power source. The material ensures this voltage level is maintained, restricting temperature variation to within 0.2 degrees Celsius of the limit. With Gorix, an entire expanse of cloth is regulated, preventing "hot spots".

EXO, based in Edinburgh, UK, is now actively marketing what it claims is the first, "intrinsically safe and totally adaptable" textile and polymer-based heating system. Called Fabroc, the system is a combination of conductive yarn, braiding and carbon loaded silicon elements that can be used to apply heat to a wide range of products including textiles, footwear, dry suits, back supports, custom heated gloves etc. Fabroc employs no wires to break or overheat, has no solid panels to accommodate and uses discreet and efficient energy sources, operating at very low voltages (typically 3.7-14.8 volts).

The BMW Heated Vest has been designed to plug into a BMW power socket but it is also possible to connect it to the battery of any motorcycle. Designed without a collar, the black and gray vest can be worn with virtually any style of riding jacket. Its maximum heating performance requires 3.5 amps at 12 voltsmeaning it needs less power than most headlight bulbs. The carbon fiber fabric, responsible for the heating performance, allows a more uniform and pleasant distribution of heat than most conventional heated garments. The vest is lined and has exceptional thermal insulation properties. This has been achieved by vapor-depositing aluminum onto the waistcoats outer material.

Concluding remarks

Intelligent textiles provide rich evidence of the enormous wealth of opportunities still to be grasped by the textile industry. These opportunities appear equally abundant in the clothing and fashion sector of the industry and in the technical textiles sector. In particular, future developments will arise from active collaboration between people representing a whole variety of backgrounds and disciplines, including engineering, science, process development, design, commerce and marketing. Within the next few years, intelligent (SMART) devices will significantly influence our everyday lives, and many of these devices will be present in textile and clothing. Indeed, progress in intelligent textiles is occurring so fast that there are likely to be significant developments between the time of submission of this paper and its subsequent publication.

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