The Challenge
Ceramic Body armour can be damaged during training or on operations which can result in degraded performance reducing its ability to provide comprehensive impact protection. The damage sustained by the ceramic plate following a severe impact event, often takes the form of multiple hairline fractures which are only visible during post operation x-ray analysis.
Plextek answered a UKMoD research call to investigate reducing the need to return body armour for x-ray analysis as the core element of the logistic support cycle.
The Approach
The core requirement for the candidate solution was the ability to be retrofitted onto existing body armour stocks, to be low size, weight, power and cost (SWaPC) and be a low training burden for users.
Working with a manufacturer of UK MoD in-service ceramic body armour, we developed a sensing capability based on MEMs (Micro-Electro- Mechanical Systems). Following extensive concept proving and impact testing, the technique was fine tuned to reliably detect the shock waves associated with the development of cracks within the ceramic plate caused by excessive impacts.
Extensive non-destructive body armour plate testing validated our approach.
The Outcome
The project delivered the Plextek Armour Impact Monitoring Sensor (AIMS) , a low SWaPC sensor that delivers immediate status of the body armour to the user. This infield confidence check removes the need to return the plate to the manufacturer for x-ray analysis, drastically reducing logistic support costs.
The design is of a low profile fit and forget sensor (5 year operating life), where the user can rapidly assess the integrity of their body armour through status information presented as a simple, single screen graphic on a Smartphone App.
AIMS has a broad range of applications beyond body armour such as ballistic helmets or reconfigured as a pattern of life sensor.
