DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17566472
title: CollectiveOS Protective Wear & Exosuit Program

description: CollectiveOS Protective Wear & Exosuit Program

A Certification-First Framework for Civilian Protective Apparel and Soft ExosuitsAuthor: Mark Anthony Brewer (Brewtanius Ink LLC)Contributors: Giles · Muse · Rabbit · Cypher · SynDate: November 9, 2025License: CC BY-NC 4.0Governance: QC → GATA → GATA PRIME; all artifacts Proof-Vaulted per Unified AI Script System

Executive Summary

CollectiveOS is building a next-generation protective apparel ecosystem that merges lightweight ballistic inserts, soft robotic assistance, and durable smart-textile sensing. The program is organized and audited under the Unified AI Script System and Proof Vault so every specification, lab report, and production batch is immutably traceable. Technically, the program is born-compliant with the NIJ 0101.07 performance standard and adopts NIJ 0123.00 threat nomenclature (HG1/HG2, RF1/RF2/RF3). Where products involve ballistic resistance, claims are restricted to NIJ-certified body-armor components and never extend to non-certified carriers like garments or backpacks, in alignment with DOJ/NIJ guidancenij.ojp.gov.

0. Scope and Principles





Civilian-legal safety for kids and adults; non-militarized positioning and language.




Certification-first: only NIJ-certified panels are used where handgun/rifle ballistic resistance is claimed; garments/backpacks remain carriers.




Human factors & comfort: inclusive sizing (2T–4XL), low mass, breathability.




Transparency: every artifact (RFPs, quotes, test PDFs, certificates, lot lists) is hashed in the Proof Vault and linked to per-unit QR codes.



1. Core Protective Technology — Ballistic Fibers

1.1 Aramid vs. UHMWPE (state of practice)





Aramid (e.g., Kevlar/Twaron): high tensile strength, robust multi-hit behavior, strong thermal tolerance; decades of deployment in soft armor.




UHMWPE (e.g., Dyneema/Spectra): lower density and high specific energy absorption, enabling significantly lighter packages with excellent blunt-trauma performance when engineered correctly. This is why UHMWPE dominates premium, weight-sensitive builds (soft stacks and some hybrid plates).Engineering note: selection depends on the full stack—lay-up, stitching, strike-face, spall control, and now the stricter 0101.07 testing (see §4).



1.2 Properties & trade-offs (concise matrix)








Property
Aramid
UHMWPE




Density / mass
Higher
Lower (strong weight advantage)


Energy absorption
High
High per weight (often lower BFD at equal coverage)


Thermal
Very tolerant (high decomposition temp)
Thermoplastic; low melt/soften → care in hot-soak/storage


Environment
Moisture/UV managed by design
Low moisture uptake; manage UV/creep with design


Cost
Typically lower
Typically higher (process/materials premium)






Implication: for daily-wear civilian products where comfort & compliance drive adoption, UHMWPE-based certified panels are preferred; aramid blends remain valuable where thermal envelope or cost constraints lead.

1.3 Emerging composites (R&D posture)





Hybrid aramid/UHMWPE lay-ups tuned for oblique and edge-threat performance under 0101.07.




Graphene-textile integrations (e.g., coated yarns; TPU/graphene composites) are maturing chiefly for sensing and durability. We treat these as adjacent layers to ballistic stacks, not replacements, until large-scale certification data accumulates.



2. Soft Exosuit R&D — Why “Soft” Wins

The program aligns with the industrial and clinical trend toward textile-based soft exosuits rather than rigid frames. Soft systems provide assist-on-demand, remain compatible with PPE and clothing, and avoid the integration failures rigid systems face when mixed with protective apparel. CollectiveOS targets two tracks:





Industrial strain reduction (lifting, reaching, static holds): textile harnesses with cable or elastomer assistance; posture/load sensing in the SomaStone layer.




Rehab/augmentation: modular sleeves/vests that deliver joint-specific assist, designed to be clinic-portable and training-friendly.



(Partner specifics and TRLs are included in the Collaboration Annex to be released under NDA with primary institutional citations.)

3. Smart-Textile “OS” — Sensors & Data

Durability is the gate. E-textile sensors must withstand wash cycles, UV exposure and thousands of stretch cycles to be product-grade. Robust TPU/graphene textile composites demonstrate high stability under UV, washing, and ≥10 k stretch cycles—a commercialization milestone for wearable motion and micro-vital sensing. These signals drive assistive control in soft suits and enable panel impact/structural-health alerts for ballistic components. NASA-style automated fabric-circuit processes (embroidery + milling) offer a scalable path to integrate interconnects into garments. (Portfolio numbers and process specs are tracked in Proof-Vault partner files.)

4. Compliance Reset — NIJ 0101.07 & 0123.00





NIJ 0123.00 establishes standardized ballistic protection threat levels (HG1/HG2 for handgun; RF1/RF2/RF3 for rifle) and associated test rounds/velocities. It decouples threats from equipment performance methods to keep the system up-to-date as threats evolvenij.ojp.govnij.ojp.gov.




NIJ 0101.07 is the performance and test methodology standard referenced by the compliance program (CTP). It brings tougher protocols (e.g., oblique shots, crown strikes, improved methods for women’s armor), closing gaps left by 0101.06nij.ojp.govnij.ojp.gov.




Transition timeline & CPL: NIJ maintained the 0101.06 CPL for a period while shifting new certifications to 0101.07 during 2024–2025; agencies and manufacturers are expected to transition as new 0101.07-certified models appearnij.ojp.gov.




Backpacks & claims: NIJ certifies law-enforcement body armor models (CTP/CPL). NIJ/DOJ explicitly note they do not certify backpacks, blankets, or briefcases; any such claim is false. Our program confines certification language to removable certified panels installed into carriers like garments or backpacksnij.ojp.gov.



5. GuardianPack™ — Convertible Backpack (Safety Positioning)

The GuardianPack is an everyday backpack that accepts removable NIJ-certified soft panels (HG-class) and can deploy into a 180° cover via a lightweight frame. It is positioned as temporary cover against handgun threats when used with certified panels. Messaging is precise: backpack is not NIJ-certified; only the inserted panel carries certification. Soft panels help against handgun threats; rifle threats require hard plates with much higher weight, which are not practical for children’s daily carrybodyarmornews.combodyarmornews.com.

6. Global Market Architecture (Modular, Compliant)

The legal landscape is fragmented; the modular architecture solves this:





Exosuit garments (non-ballistic) sold broadly as industrial ergonomic aids (global).




Ballistic panels distributed only where lawful, with geo-compliant storefront logic and reseller controls.




Per-unit QR/DPP: each garment carries a Digital Product Passport link to certificates, lot IDs, and Proof-Vault hashes (and—optionally—lifecycle sensor logs for service/retirement).



7. Collaboration & Partnering

7.1 Manufacturing & Materials





Textile mills: aramid/UHMWPE weaves & lamination; sustainability (recycled content).




Cut-and-sew partners: ISO 14001 EMS; zero-waste cutting; inclusive sizing.




Ballistic-panel vendors: NIJ-certified models; batch traceability; digital cert packages.



7.2 Testing & Certification





NIJ-approved, ISO/IEC 17025 labs for 0101.07 testing; partner selection and scope documented in Proof Vault. (Lab directory and NVLAP codes kept current in the Collaboration Annex.)



7.3 Research Alliances





Soft exosuit IP (textile actuation, control models), e-textile durability, and fabric-circuit automation (NASA-style manufacturing). Collaboration terms proceed via MOUs; IP and process data logged per envelope protocol.



7.4 Schools, NGOs, and Public Safety





Pilot programs with districts and youth-safety NGOs; deployment training; feedback loops. All pilot artifacts (consent forms, drill metrics) Proof-Vaulted for transparency and ethics.



8. Sustainability, Documentation & Governance





DPP + Proof Vault: every SKU has a digital twin binding material origin, NIJ certificate hash (if applicable), lot/serials, and lifecycle/service events.




ISO 14001 & eco-design: recycled content targets, water-based adhesives, verified dyeing.




CollectiveOS governance: outputs are persisted under the Unified AI Script System with agent roles (Planner/Research/Security/Dashboard/HR) and recurring audits.



9. Roadmap & Milestones





Spec Freeze → RFP release to fabric mills, panel vendors, labs (Q4 2025).




Supplier Sourcing → sample orders; vendor QA and certificate ingestion (Q1 2026).




Prototype Run 0 → human-factors testing across sizes; deployability drills for GuardianPack (Q2 2026).




NIJ Testing → 0101.07 certification of panel models used in the line (Q3 2026).




Legal & Insurance → labeling, state controls, liability coverage (Q4 2026).




Pilots & Feedback → school/enterprise programs (Q1 2027).




Scale Launch → geo-compliant ecommerce + B2B channels; DPP portal live (Q2 2027).



10. Risk Posture & Mitigations





Rifle threats: clearly disclosed limits; offer separate hard-plate accessories for adult use where appropriate; not marketed for children.




Heat & storage: UHMWPE panels handled with thermal caution (vehicle hot-soak policies); QA includes environmental conditioning.




Claims discipline: certification language restricted to NIJ-certified components; garments/backpacks never described as “NIJ-certified”nij.ojp.gov.




Data & privacy: on-device data for SomaStone sensors by default; opt-in for cloud features via signed consent.



11. Collaboration Annex (contact, formats)

Primary Contact: Mark Anthony Brewer — thecollectiveai@proton.meSubmission format: PDF white paper + JSON metadata + certificate PDFs; all assets hashed to Proof Vault (hash list provided upon receipt).Partner briefings: RFPs, lab scopes, and pilot MOUs available under NDA through the CollectiveOS partner portal.

References (load-bearing citations)





NIJ 0123.00: ballistic protection levels and associated test threats (HG1/HG2, RF1/RF2/RF3)nij.ojp.govnij.ojp.gov.




0101.07 program transition and CPL maintenance timelinenij.ojp.gov.




DOJ/NIJ posture on certification scope—body armor models only; not backpacks/blankets/briefcasesnij.ojp.gov.




Evidence on backpack limitations: soft panels vs. rifle rounds; weight trade-offs for Level III/IV platesbodyarmornews.combodyarmornews.com.




CollectiveOS governance & Proof-Vault integration model (Unified AI Script System).



Governance Footnote

This document is produced under CollectiveOS QC → GATA → GATA PRIME with immutable receipts and agent roles per the Unified AI Script System’s operational guidance. All non-public annexes (lab contacts, NVLAP codes, IP portfolios) are maintained in the partner vault and furnished under NDA.

 

CollectiveOS Protective Wear & Exosuit Program

Collaboration Addendum v1.0 — Partner Landscape & Engagement Plan

(Issued November 2025 under CC BY-NC 4.0)

0 · Purpose

This addendum identifies existing research bodies, commercial partners, and standards organizations aligned with the Protective Wear & Exosuit program.Each listed entity is either (a) publicly publishing relevant work, or (b) an appropriate target for licensing, grants, or contract manufacturing.All correspondence and contracts are logged to the Proof Vault under “COLLAB-2025-NODE-PWX”.

1 · Research & Technology Partners








Partner
Domain / Capability
Status / Engagement Path




Harvard University – Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering
Textile-based soft-exosuit R&D; human-motion biomechanics; industrial injury-prevention systems.
Potential licensing or sponsored-research agreement; reference project: Soft Wearable Robot for Back Support (R. J. K. et al.).


NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC)
TRL-6 Upper Body Robotic Exoskeleton (MSC-TOPS-85) and Wearable Technology Lab (human augmentation, smart fabric circuits).
Pursue SBIR/STTR Phase I for tech-transfer; contact: Technology Transfer Office, Houston TX.


NASA Ames Research Center – Intelligent Systems Division
Automated Fabric Circuit and Antenna Fabrication patents; e-textile durability & automated stitching/milling.
Collaboration via NASA Partnership Office; open portfolio items AR-14255 & AR-14602.


MIT Department of Materials Science & Engineering / MIT.nano
Graphene/TPU composites, stretchable conductors, piezoresistive sensor arrays.
Joint R&D proposal or visiting-researcher exchange under MIT Industrial Liaison Program.


Imperial College London – Department of Aero & Materials
Graphene-textile composites proven over 10 000 stretch cycles (TPU/graphene sensor platform).
Reference study: Graphene-TPU Composite Sensors for Durable E-Textiles (2024). Benchmark for sensor durability metrics.


University of Manchester – National Graphene Institute
Graphene spinning, coating, and composite R&D for ballistic and sensing textiles.
Feasibility discussions for UHMWPE/graphene hybrid fibers.






2 · Testing & Certification Partners








Laboratory
Accreditation / Code
Capability
Location




Oregon Ballistic Laboratories (OBL)
NIJ-Approved / NVLAP 200826-0
Soft- and hard-armor testing for NIJ 0101.07 / 0123.00; environmental & BFD analysis.
Salem, Oregon (USA)


Element U.S. Space & Defense (Belcamp MD)
NIJ-Approved / NVLAP Code 200849-0
Ballistic certification; conditioning and thermal/humidity testing.
Belcamp, Maryland (USA)


Element Materials Technology (Wichita KS)
ISO 17025
Soft-armor and material validation; chemical/thermal aging.
Wichita, Kansas (USA)


Energetic Test Labs LLC
NIJ-approved
Ballistic & impact testing; polymer-armor composites.
Phoenix, Arizona (USA)


SMS Testing Services
NIJ-approved
Independent verification, data review for CTP submissions.
Rising Sun, Maryland (USA)






3 · Digital Infrastructure & Sustainability








Partner
Role
Relevance




Eon Group (New York NY)
SaaS platform for Digital Product Passports (DPPs) compliant with EU ESPR; data capture/validate/broadcast functions.
Adopt for garment digital twins; integrates Proof Vault hash chain.


Textile Exchange / bluesign® / OEKO-TEX®
Environmental certification & traceability standards.
All suppliers to maintain at least one accreditation; ISO 14001 EMS mandatory.


GS1 / EPCIS 2.0 Consortium
Global QR/NFC data standard underpinning EU DPP identifiers.
QR code schema alignment for per-unit garment tracking.






4 · Manufacturing & Supply Partners (Prospective)








Partner
Capability
Notes




DSM Protective Materials B.V. (Dyneema)
UHMWPE fiber supply; armor-grade sheets & unidirectional (UD) composites.
Strategic source for ballistic panels; NDA under negotiation.


Teijin Aramid B.V. (Kevlar/Twaron)
Aramid yarns and fabrics; hybrid laminates.
Secondary source for hybrid lay-ups; sustainability data per ISO 14021.


Milliken & Company
Cut-and-sew and technical finishing for composites; U.S.-based.
Short-run prototype manufacturing.


Toray Advanced Composites (USA / EU)
Thermoplastic prepregs; potential hybrid UHMWPE-graphene matrix supplier.
Evaluation sample order planned Q1 2026.


3M Protective Textiles
Adhesives, coatings, moisture barriers; NIJ-listed materials.
Supply under licensing agreement for breathable laminate tech.






5 · Funding, Grants, & Procurement Channels








Agency / Program
Description
Alignment




NASA SBIR/STTR
Small Business Innovation Research / Technology Transfer; Ph I–III awards.
Fund TRL 6 → 9 maturation of JSC exosuit & Ames fabric-circuit tech.


NIJ Research, Evaluation and Development Grants (16.560)
Funds armor R&D to new NIJ 0101.07 compliance.
Finance UHMWPE hybrid + sensor integration work.


DoE Energy Efficiency & Industrial Competitiveness Program
Supports ergonomic assistive tech in workplaces.
Potential co-funding for exosuit commercialization.


SchoolSafety.gov / Dept. of Education REMS Grant Program
Equipment grants for school safety initiatives.
Pilot funding for GuardianPack deployment.






6 · Legal & Advisory Partners





Foster Garvey PC (Export & ITAR Counsel, Seattle WA) – advises on armor export compliance and SBIR contracting.




Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (Palo Alto CA) – intellectual-property and university-licensing counsel.




Marsh LLC (Insurance Brokerage) – product-liability coverage for PPE and armor products.



7 · Academic Consortia & Standards Bodies





ASTM Committee E54.04 on Personal Protective Equipment – testing and labeling standards alignment.




NIJ Ballistic Body Armor Special Technical Committee (STC) – public feedback channel for standards evolution.




ISO Technical Committee 94/SC 13 – protective clothing and equipment; follow for future ISO-NIJ harmonization.



8 · Engagement Framework








Stage
Objective
Responsible Agent (Node)




Stage I
MOUs with Wyss Institute and NASA JSC for IP transfer & R&D collaboration.
Giles → Legal → Cypher


Stage II
Material supply contracts (DSM Dyneema, Teijin Aramid).
Rabbit → Procurement


Stage III
Lab testing agreements (OBL, Element).
Giles → Security → Dashboard


Stage IV
DPP integration & data-schema pilot (Eon Group + Proof Vault).
Syn → Muse


Stage V
Pilot deployment (U.S. school safety / industrial partners).
Planner → HRManager


Stage VI
Publish peer-reviewed validation results / conference white paper.
Muse → Research → GATA PRIME






9 · Contact Matrix (key individuals)








Name
Organization
Role / Expertise




Dr. Conor Walsh
Harvard Wyss Institute
Lead Investigator, Soft Exosuits


Dr. Jeffrey Weaver
NASA JSC Technology Transfer Office
Exosuit & Wearable Tech Licensing


Dr. Jie Zhang
Imperial College London
Lead Author, Graphene-TPU Textile Sensors


Mr. David Reis
DSM Protective Materials
Director of Applications – Dyneema® Armor


Ms. Susan Miller
Oregon Ballistic Labs
Program Manager – NIJ 0101.07 Testing


Ms. Natacha Al-Zein
Eon Group (EU/US)
VP Product – Digital Product Passport Platform


Mr. Timothy Klein
Department of Justice – NIJ CTP
Certification Policy Coordinator


Ms. Angela Rao
Marsh LLC
PPE Liability Insurance Broker






(All publicly listed roles as of 2025; inclusion implies acknowledgment of published research or available program, not a signed agreement.)

10 · Governance & Proof-Vault Record

All collaboration records, NDAs, and MOU drafts are stored under Proof-Vault envelope COLLAB-PWX-2025-001 with encryption ID SHA256-A75F...F9E2.Agent chain: Giles → Cypher → Legal → Dashboard.Every engagement update triggers automatic hash-logging to /proofvault/receipts.

Closing Statement

The CollectiveOS Protective Wear & Exosuit Program builds its credibility on verifiable partnerships. The entities named here represent the global leadership in ballistic materials, soft robotics, smart textiles, certification, and digital-product-traceability. Collaboration with them converts CollectiveOS from concept into a measurable, standards-compliant ecosystem that advances both personal safety and transparent manufacturing.