The Spanish company EMXYS, in collaboration with the ESA (European Space Agency), has developed a smart t-shirt capable of measuring and transmitting key data about physical activity of the human body, and one’s location.

TrainGrid uses a t-shirt equipped with multiple sensors, to obtain in real time an electrocardiogram of the user, his/her pulse, skin temperature, body position and location, thanks to a satellite navigation signal. Just by wearing the t-shirt, one’s route and heart rate are recorded, velocity measured, and the condition of other companions is known. The system monitors blows one might receive and falls, and calculates the speed and results of exercise, sending all this data via Bluetooth to a mobile telephone or computer; this allows sharing the information with a coach, doctor, friends or on social networks.

“Now we are exploring other possible applications for this technology, such as monitoring workers in remote locations or during dangerous activities like putting out fires or rescue operations,”, stated José Antonio Carrasco, General Manager of Emxys. In order to take this step, we are considering the possibility of integrating a system of satellite communication into the t-shirt”.

TrainGrid is already being used by the company EstrellaSat, in order to monitor the condition of miners in remote locations, thus improving their work safety. Given the singular characteristics of the technology, there is also clearly a sphere of uses for military equipment in special operations, by allowing a team’s vital signs, movements and critical situations to be monitored.