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Theme 5.2: Integrated Fiber and Fabric Systems
The modern Soldier faces an ever- increasing number of threats, which can emerge from all directions and engage him anywhere on his body. Fortunately, prior to the actual engagement an adversary will typically emit a non-voluntary warning signal which in principle can be detected. The ability to protect a Soldier or vehicle depends on our capability to detect and process these early warning signals at speeds that exceed milliseconds. Adding to the dimension of this challenge is the fact that these warning signals involve a wide array of basic physical excitations: electromagnetic, acoustic and even thermal. For example, an electromagnetic wave in the visible regime emitted from the rocket launcher precedes the impact of an RPG, thus in principle identifying it’s source and enabling counter measures. An acoustic wave from a stray bullet may provide information on the sniper location. A laser range finder or laser designator beam will probe prior to the target impact of a tank shell. The acoustic wave associated with a hollow charge impacting a vehicle precedes the damage associated with the charge detonation and penetration and may in principle allow for the deployment of a directed countermeasure. The large area detection requirements, speed of detection, and diversity of excitation types, necessitate new multifunctional detection paradigms. To do so we will build on the recent discovery of multimaterial functional fibers at MIT which will be developed in ISN-2 under Theme 1.4. The key enabling feature of these new fibers is their ability to cover and impart functionality to very large areas commensurate with the entire surface of a dismounted Soldier or motorized vehicle or aircraft. The objective of Research Theme 5.2 will be the development of paradigms for the realization of integrated system level performance using MIT’s unique metal-insulator-semiconductor fiber platform. These paradigms will encompass two completely distinct length scales, each of which defines new frontiers in fiber research: On the one hand, the microscopic sub-micron length scale, where the limits of integration on a single fiber level will be studied; with questions such as: what type and number of functional elements can be combined in a single fiber? On the other hand, the macroscopic meter scale, where the implications of combining multimaterial functional fibers into large assemblies or fabrics will be examined; with questions such as: what types of sophisticated functionalities can be achieved given that 102-106 fibers are combined in a fabric or other geometric construct? The research will explore the tradeoffs between the sophistication of a single fiber vs. the complexity of the fiber assembly for achieving particular overall system functionality specifications. The types of system-level functions that will be possible are intimately related to the types of fiber devices developed under Project 1.4.1.
Project 5.2.1: Fabric Systems that See
Theme 5.2 Researchers
Prof. Yoel Fink, Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Prof. John D. Joannopoulos,
Department of Physics
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