The name might be a mouthful but the concept is promising. Researchers at Canada’s Department of National Defence have developed a fitted battery-powered vest with a built-in thermostat. The system is designed to warm the torso to the point that the body can keep fingers warm on its own and negates the need for handwear as insulation.
The vest uses a built-in control system to monitor the wearer’s finger temperature, and turns up the heat when they’re chilly. This fools the core into thinking that the body is overheating, triggering an automatic response to send warm blood to the extremities.
Researchers have already demonstrated a prototype of the vest with Soldiers who disassembled and reassembled their rifles in -25° C conditions without difficulty.
Defense Research and Development Canada is interested in licensing the technology to the outdoor and sporting goods industries. Let’s hope someone in the Soldier Systems industry integrates the technology as well.
Interestingly, DARPA in conjunction with Standford Research Institute developed the “Glove” which does exactly the opposite. The hand is placed inside a cylinder with a rubberized cuff and a vacuum forms around the hand and cools blood which fills the capillaries. The blood is then in turn circulated through the body and cools the core. Performance is greatly enhanced in as little as five minutes of use.