Modular Space Frame Armor Rapid Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current protective structures for urban environments are bulky, require heavy equipment for deployment, and lack scalability and rapid deployment capabilities, making them inefficient for providing effective ballistic and blast protection in dynamic military and civilian settings.
Innovation Solution
The Modular Protective System-Ready Armor Protection For Instant Deployment (MPS-RAPID) system, which includes collapsible space frame units and armor panels, can be quickly assembled and disassembled using a winch mechanism, allowing for rapid deployment and scalability, and can be transported on Quadcons or PLS trucks, providing up to 130 linear feet of protection per truck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional protective structures (concrete structures or earthen embankments) are used, then protection against ballistic and blast threats is provided, but the structures are bulky and require heavy equipment for deployment
Solution Approach 1:
The protective structure is divided into multiple modular panels that can be individually handled and assembled. Each panel contains protective elements (such as ceramic or composite armor) integrated into a standardized frame, allowing the overall structure to be segmented into manageable units that provide cumulative protection when assembled together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite armor materials combining different substances (such as ceramic front layers with metal back layers, or fiber-reinforced polymers) to achieve high protective capability at reduced weight. These composite materials provide ballistic and blast resistance comparable to conventional heavy structures while significantly reducing the overall weight and bulk of the protective system.
2Strength
If conventional protective structures are used, then protection is provided, but rapid deployment capability is lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The modular panel design enables rapid deployment by allowing pre-fabricated units to be quickly transported to the deployment location and assembled through standardized connection interfaces. The segmented structure can be deployed incrementally as panels are brought into position, rather than requiring complete structure assembly before deployment begins.
Solution Approach 2:
Protective panels are pre-assembled with integrated armor elements and connection hardware during manufacturing, so that field deployment requires only positioning and linking of complete functional units. The modular design allows panels to be pre-configured in various arrangements to match anticipated deployment scenarios, reducing on-site assembly complexity and time.
3Strength
If conventional protective structures are used, then protection is provided, but scalability and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The modular panel system provides inherent scalability, allowing the protective structure to be expanded or contracted by adding or removing panels. Standardized dimensions and connection mechanisms enable easy reconfiguration into different arrangements (walls, barriers, fortifications) to adapt to varying operational requirements and threat levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized modular panels are designed to serve multiple protective functions (ballistic protection, blast mitigation, physical barriers) and can be deployed in various configurations for different applications. The universal panel design allows the same basic unit to be used across different deployment scenarios, enhancing adaptability while maintaining protection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Ready armor modular protective systems that can be rapidly deployed in an urban environment. Exemplary armor systems include multiple space frame units. Adjacent space frame units can be coupled together with vertically adjustable coupling mechanisms. Coupling mechanisms (e.g. slot and pin connecting mechanisms) can facilitate relative displacement between adjacent space frame units when the units are connected. In this way, a wall of connected adjacent space frame units can be placed and/or moved along an uneven or irregular surface (e.g. having bumps or a grade) and the adjacent space frame units can remain in parallel and/or vertical orientation relative to one another. Suspension mechanisms can help to facilitate or enable rapid deployment of a ready armor modular protective system.