Practice CEW Dart Structure for Non-Piercing Live-Target Training
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) training with live targets poses risks due to actual darts piercing clothing and tissue, and delivering high voltage currents, necessitating a safer practice method that mimics the weight and flight of real darts without causing injury.
Innovation Solution
A practice dart design featuring a modified spear with a cap to prevent tissue piercing and a non-conductive filament to avoid stimulus signal delivery, allowing for safe training without actual tissue penetration or electrical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional darts are used for CEW training with live targets, then the training can simulate real CEW operation, but the darts pierce clothing and tissue causing injury and delivering high voltage currents creating safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a practice dart that copies the external appearance and flight characteristics of a conventional CEW dart, including the spear point and barbs, but modifies the internal structure to be non-conductive and incapable of piercing. This allows the practice dart to simulate the training scenario without delivering harmful electrical currents or causing tissue injury.
Solution Approach 2:
The practice dart acts as an intermediary between the CEW system and the training target. It mimics the functional aspects of a real dart for training purposes while the non-conductive filament and modified spear structure prevent the harmful effects of electrical stimulus delivery and tissue piercing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a practice dart is designed to be non-conductive and non-piercing, then safety is improved, but the dart cannot deliver electrical stimuli or mechanically penetrate target clothing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful functions (electrical conduction and piercing capability) from the dart structure. The spear point is modified to be non-piercing, and the filament is made non-conductive, removing the dangerous aspects while preserving the training simulation value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes critical parameters of the dart: the filament material is changed from conductive to non-conductive, and the spear point is modified to lack piercing capability. These parameter changes eliminate the harmful effects while maintaining the dart's ability to simulate CEW operation for training.
3Ease of operation
If practice darts replicate the weight and flight of real darts, then training realism is improved, but the risk of causing injury increases
Solution Approach 1:
The practice dart copies the external dimensions, weight, and aerodynamic properties of a conventional CEW dart to ensure similar flight characteristics and training realism. However, the internal structure is fundamentally different, with a non-conductive filament and non-piercing spear point, eliminating the harmful effects despite the realistic appearance and flight.
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
The practice dart system enables safer and more effective training by replicating the weight and flight characteristics of real darts while preventing tissue penetration and electrical interference, enhancing the live-target experience without causing injury or discomfort.
Implementation Method 1
A practice dart may include a spear, a non-conductive filament, and an overlay. The practice dart may be launched from a deployment unit using a propellant.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for a practice electrode (e.g. dart) for a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”). An officer issued a CEW is required to practice with the CEW in order to maximize its safe and effective use in a stressful situation. Preferably, training is performed using equipment as similar as possible to the equipment an officer uses in the field. Training with a CEW against a live target may be improved, at least from the perspective of the target, by using a practice dart that is similar in weight and flight to a conventional electrode, but that does not pierce target clothing or tissue or deliver a high voltage current through the target. A practice dart may be similar to a conventional electrode but include additional structure (e.g. cap) that prevents piercing. The additional structure and/or a non-conductive filament may reduce a likelihood of or preclude delivery a current through the target.