US special forces could soon be wearing smart fabrics that monitor how they cope during combat situations, reports the BBC.

The fabric gathers information on heart beat, skin temperature, posture, activity and breathing rate when against the skin.

The bio-harness (a length of fabric worn around the chest) and the shoe pod (a smart insole) are both made of a patented textile that has the sensors woven into it. Once paired with electronics to store and broadcast data, this fabric can record physiological information.

The textiles were developed by New Zealand firm Zephyr and have been shown off at the hi-tech trade fair, Cebit.