Dr. Patricia Wilson
President Fabric Works

Dr. Wilson is a materials scientist with twelve years of industrial research experience in the development, characterization and application of materials in complicated systems. Previous to founding Fabric Works in 2005, Dr. Wilson was Principal Scientist in the Electronic & Biomedical Materials & Systems Division of Foster-Miller, Inc. Dr. Wilson had a broad range of experience at Foster-Miller, often serving as the technology integrator on multidisciplinary programs. A common theme among the programs she managed at Foster-Miller were those that combine materials science and optical or electro-optic devices in systems. Between 1998 and 2005 she was the lead technologist developing a business area in electronic textiles. Her past and present work investigates how to use common conductive textile materials and techniques to build integrated networks, antenna systems and higher-level input-output devices. Through numerous military and commercial product launches she has become known as a leader in this emerging field. Most recently she edited the first technical book on electronic textiles and is served as a technical advisor to an exhibit entitled “Extreme Textiles: Designing for Performance?which debuted at the Smithsonian in April of 2005. Dr. Wilson received her Ph.D. and M.S. in materials science and engineering from the University of Michigan and her B.S. in materials science and engineering from M.I.T.

Highlights of developments in Smart Textiles or E-Textiles include:

• Technical Leader for Soldier System IPT for the Objective Force Warrior Program, Phase I, Eagle Team (September 2002 - May 2003). Coordinated technology integration of over 50 people across 14 organizations in 16 disciplines, resulting in the award of $100 million Phase II contract to Eagle Team. Team conceptualized and produced prototypes of new soldier combat uniform ?4 prototypes produced in 8 months. Final ensemble design won Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI) 2003 International Award for Excellence.
• Developed and grew Electronic Textiles Team from initial contract to team with over $5 million in R&D contracts.
• Technical lead on entire development phase of Malden Heat Blanket, the first E-textile consumer product to market. Product concept to market took 22 months.
• Participated on team to develop Northface MET5 Jacket for Malden Mills.
• Principal Investigator, Narrow Fabric Cable Development.. Conceptualized and prototyped narrow fabric USB cables, leading to $3 million in additional government programs, a patent, and the invitation to participate in the Objective Force Warrior program.
• Principal Investigator, Body-Borne Textile Antenna Development. Led collaboration of Foster-Miller team with BAE Systems antenna specialists.

Selected Related Publications and Patents:

U.S. Patent 6,727,197: “A Wearable Transmission Device?

U.S. Patent 6,729,025: “Method of Manufacturing a Fabric Article to include Electronic Circuitry and an Electrically Active Textile Article?

Smarter, Textiles from Novel Means of Innovation, Patricia Wilson in Extreme Textiles, Designing for High Performance Edited by Matilda McQuaid. (Princeton Architectural Press, NY) 2005

Electronics on Unconventional Substrates - Electrotextiles and Giant-Area Flexible Circuits, Materials Research Society, Shur, M., Wilson, P., Urban, D., Ed., Warrendale, PA, 2003.

Mechanical Testing of Electrotexile Cables and Connectors, J. Slade, P. Wilson, et. al. in Electronics on Unconventional Substrates - Electrotextiles and Giant-Area Flexible Circuits, Materials Research Society, Shur, M., Wilson, P., Urban, D., Ed., Warrendale, PA, 2003.

Improving Electrotextile Wearability Using Stiffness Testing, J. Slade, P. Wilson, et. al. in Electronics on Unconventional Substrates - Electrotextiles and Giant-Area Flexible Circuits, Materials Research Society, Shur, M., Wilson, P., Urban, D., Ed., Warrendale, PA, 2003.

Textile Based Antennas, J. Slade, J. Teverovsky, B. Farrell, J. Bowman, M. Agpaoa-Kraus, P. Wilson, J. Pederson, J. Merenda, W. Horowitz, E. Tierney, and C. Winterhalter, in Electronics on Unconventional Substrates - Electrotextiles and Giant-Area Flexible Circuits, Materials Research Society, Shur, M., Wilson, P., Urban, D., Ed., Warrendale, PA, 2003.

Washing of Electrotextiles, J. Slade, M. Agpaoa-Kraus, J. Bowman, A. Riecker, T. Tiano, C. Carey, and P. Wilson, in Electronics on Unconventional Substrates - Electrotextiles and Giant-Area Flexible Circuits, Materials Research Society, Shur, M., Wilson, P., Urban, D., Ed., Warrendale, PA, 2003.