Thermal imaging for Intelligent Textiles The Problem Intelligent Textiles is a UK SME that designs and manufactures polymer- based heating elements and sensors that are integrated into the fabric of products such as gloves, boots, clothing, bandages and heating pads for hospital patients. As the textile is in close contact with the skin, it is obviously essential that the heating elements incorporate fail-safe mechanisms and are assessed to ensure they do not exceed a given maximum temperature. 'Hot spots' or failed elements in the fabric are currently identified by a time consuming manual process, however if a technique based on thermal imaging could be developed to monitor temperature over the whole area of the fabric it could potentially lead to considerable improvements in the product,

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