Law Enforcement Protective Gear Design Using Sensor-Equipped Impact Dummy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective equipment for law enforcement forces is designed empirically, lacking a scientific approach for precise and reproducible evaluation of protective effectiveness, making it difficult to standardize and improve the design of clothing or equipment for specific protection needs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a dummy equipped with kinematic and/or dynamometric sensors to measure impacts on predetermined target areas, allowing for the assessment of energy absorption and force attenuation with and without protective gear, and iterative design modifications to meet threshold values for improved protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If protective equipment is designed empirically through prototypes and real condition testing, then design flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision and reproducibility of protective effectiveness evaluation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dummy as an intermediary test object between the impactor and the protective equipment. The dummy equipped with sensors serves as a mediator that standardizes the transmission of impact forces while enabling precise measurement of protective effectiveness, thereby resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of human test subjects with a standardized dummy instrumented with sensors. This substitution maintains measurement precision while reducing the complexity and ethical concerns associated with human testing, as the dummy can be repeatedly tested under controlled conditions
2Reliability
If protective equipment is designed without standardized evaluation, then design iteration is flexible, but reliability and objective comparison of protective effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes standardized parameters for evaluating protective equipment, including impact force, impact velocity, and energy absorption metrics. By defining specific measurement parameters and threshold values, the patent enables reliable comparison of different protective equipment while maintaining efficient design iteration through objective feedback
3Measurement precision
If impacts are applied with variable real conditions, then test realism is improved, but measurement reproducibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a pendulum-based impactor system that dynamically adjusts impact parameters while maintaining reproducibility. The pendulum mechanism allows controlled variation of impact force and velocity through adjustable release heights, enabling both realistic test conditions and repeatable measurements by standardizing the dynamic impact process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables objective evaluation and certification of protective equipment, ensuring a calibrated level of protection and facilitating the design of gear that can offer varying degrees of protection based on specific needs, enhancing reliability and user choice.
Implementation Method 1
applying said impacts to the target area of the dummy devoid of protective clothing or equipment, and noting the measurements provided by the sensor(s) located in the region of said target zones
Implementation Method 2
deducing from the measurements at least one value of absorbed energy and/or of force attenuation by said protective clothing or equipment
Data Source
Figure 1~3b
AI summary
A method for designing clothing and equipment for protecting law enforcement officers comprising the following steps: equipping a dummy with cinematic and/or load sensors, - positioning an impact application device to apply impacts on a target zone of the impact dummy, and the apply these impacts without the protection and the recording of the resulting measurements, the mounting of a form of protection on the target zone of the dummy, - the application of these impacts on the protected dummies, and the reading of the ensuing measurements, - the deduction of the energy absorbed from the measurements the value and/or attenuation of the impact force by the protection,- if the value(s) are superior to the threshold values, the clothing or equipment can be tagged as acceptable,- otherwise, structural modifications must be made to the protective clothing or equipment with the purpose of improving these values. Application of standardized tests for levels of protection in order to facilitate the choice of equipment for its intended usage.