A recent press release from Australian Department of Defence announced that two companies will be granted a $700,000 (possibly Australian dollars) from Australian Next Generation Technologies Fund to develop a soldier wearable device which will collect data concerning the soldier’s condition and location in the battlefield. In case if the soldier is wounded the device will work as an emergency beacon. It is expected to aid faster medical assistance and evacuation thus possibly reducing the casualty rates. The device is called Fight Recorder and as the press release describes, it is the equivalent of a Black Box for soldiers.

According to Australian Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, this device can also transmit data concerning the performance of the soldier’s protective equipment.

Two companies called Myriota and IMeasureU were selected from 47 applicants from Australia and New Zealand. Myriota is a telecommunications company and IMeasureU is specialized in wearable technologies making products for the sports market.

The military device will probably be similar to an existing IMeasureU product shown on the top image of this article.

I think this technology is a very important one in terms of saving soldiers’ lives. There can be situations when wounded soldier’s status isn’t identified quickly enough because of loss of consciousness on the battlefield. Such system will allow the command to immediately identify the life threat and arrange a medical evacuation.