Snowmobile suit

The third part contains five chapters, with a focus on integrating processes and integrated structures. Chapter 10 provides an overview of the developments and key issues in fibre-optic smart textile composites. Chapter 11 presents hollow fibre membranes for gas separation. Chapter 12 describes embroidery as one way of integrating fibre-formed components into textile structures. Chapters 13 and 14 are on wearable electronic and photonic technologies. Chapter 13 provides insights on adaptive and responsive textile structures (ARTS). Chapter 14 describes the development of an intelligent snowmobile suit. 

For the cross-scientific approach, a network of four university departments and four industrial companies was formed. The Institute of Electronics and the Institute of Textiles from Tampere University of Technology, the Institnte of Industrial Arts and the Institute of Textile Design from University of Lapland, the snowmobile suit manufacturer Reima-Tutta Oy, compass and navigating systems producer Suunto heart rate monitor producer Polar-Electro Oy, and DuPont Advanced Fibre Systems were the participants. In addition, Siemens and Nokia Mobile Phones assisted with GSM (global system for mobile communication) coimnunications. Altogether, more than ten researchers worked on the project. 

The snowmobile suit was selected as the prototype. A snowmobile is a vehicle used for work and leisure in harsh arctic winter conditions. The driver may be alone or in a group in remote areas. His health and even his life may... 

The prototype snowmobile suit developed within this project is a smart garment. Cross-scientifically, electronic and textile innovations were combined, and the objectives were achieved. The suit works as planned. It is not likely that the prototype costing 1 million dollars to create will be commercially exploited in its exact shape and form. However, much was learned. Several innovations, including the user interface, were patented and will be commercially applied in the future. The garment manufacturer Reima-Tutta Oy launched snowboard clothing with electronic devices in the autumn of 2000. 

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