(Credit:
TUM)
Velcro's great, but for when you need that extra hold, there's a new hook and loop fastener made from spring steel in Germany that can pinch together loads of up to 35 metric tons, according to researchers.
The uber-Velcro, dubbed Metaklett, is also chemical-resistant and can withstand temperatures of nearly 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit, according to developers at the Institute of Metal Forming and Casting, Technical University Munich (TUM).
Although Velcro and its knockoffs have been used on everything from shoes to space shuttles since its invention by Swiss engineer George de Mestral 60 years ago, it has limitations. Weak spots include hospitals, where aggressive disinfectants are used, and the construction and auto industries. "Temperatures of several hundred degrees centigrade can arise around the exhaust manifold," said lead scientist Josef Mair, explaining why a garden variety synthetic hook and loop will not do in some situations.
After testing, the institute settled on two variations--the "Flamingo" and "Entenknopf" (or duck's head) models. Both start out as less than one inch thick metal tape, but the Entenknopf uses fine steel hooks and loops, while the Flamingo uses wider hooks that snap into openings in the tape. "They are bent in such a way that they deform elastically under light pressure and glide into the holes like the synthetic buckles on backpack straps. Once inserted, they return immediately to their original form and, thanks to their sprung splaying arms, they resist back-pull like an expanding rivet," the literature explains (PDF).
"The animal names arose as a way of differentiating between the multifaceted models. The hook forms of the two systems are vaguely reminiscent of a duck's head and a flamingo standing on one leg," Mair said. Metaklett is a portmanteau of Metall and Klettverschluss, which is the German generic for Velcro.
And what of that iconic scratch Velcro makes as it is undone? The sound of Metaklett being unzipped has been described as "metallic, like a glittering chain," TUM's Patrick Regan said. Sounds like an improvement.
(Credit:
QinetiQ)
Sit up straight. Be on time. Watch your blood pressure; wise admonishments all, yet hard to enforce--until now.
A new type of undershirt wired with an integrated system can now monitor an individual's heart and respiration rate, activity, GPS location, and even posture, then transmit the data to a supervisor or other concerned adult.
Where are they? How are they? These are questions the TrainTrak physiologic "garment-based" monitoring ensemble promises to answer, according to developer, QinetiQ. By updating real-time location and physiologic status the "e-garment" can help maintain "personnel accountability, increase situational awareness, detect potential casualties, and expedite/monitor the triage process." No more goofing-off.
A small ruggedized module containing data processing electronics and the system's sensor network plus a radio transceiver are embedded "unobtrusively" in the shirt. The garment can be worn by itself or under body armor. It's powered by a rechargeable battery and is machine washable.
Designed for strenuous military, first responder and athletic use, the TrainTrak can also serve as a training tool. During training exercises, the actions and physiologic readings of multiple actors can be recorded and screened later.
Another company, Textronics, is already offering a civilian version. The NuMetrex Heart Sensing Sports Bra and Cardio Shirt for Men feature sensing fibers knit directly into the fabric, which transmit the wearer's heart rate directly to a wrist watch.
Still somewhat clunky compared with garments envisioned and designed by an MIT team. For these researchers, a true "e-garment" will have electronic circuits fashioned entirely of textiles to perform touch sensing while distributing data and power.
"These circuits use passive components sewn from conductive yarns as well as conventional components, to create interactive electronic devices, such as musical keyboards and graphic input surfaces," according to the team's paper, Smart Fabric, or Washable Computing. (PDF)
"Eventually, whole computers might be made from materials people are comfortable wearing," the report concludes.
Imagine glancing at your watch to check your date's heart rate and temperature. What a time saver.
Afghanistan is a rugged country. How rugged is it? It's so rugged the U.S. Army has commissioned special pants for soldiers fighting there.
The new Army Combat Pants are designed to take whatever Takur Ghar and other Afghan mountain ranges have to hand out, according to the Army.
The new pants feature built-in hard knee pads that adjust up or down and side to side. They are made from 7.3-ounce, fire-resistant twill, (compared with the 6.5-ounce stuff soldiers are wearing now) and sport a reinforced, stretchable seat, perfect for glissading after the jihadis. Larger cargo pockets on the calf of the leg and Velcro flaps to replace the buttons on the back pockets, complete the couture.
The current pants "were not designed for that kind of environment," Jeff Myhre, who is involved with the project told Army Times. "Really the only way to get down (steep slopes) is slide down on their rear end, and sometimes when they are climbing, it's foot-knee, foot-knee to get up to altitude."
The Army began developing the new pants last spring after soldiers complained their standard issues were wearing out too quickly from crawling up and down the country's jagged peaks. Three thousand prototype pairs will be sent over for testing with 75th Ranger Regiment and the West Virginia Army National Guard. The Army could field the new trousers as early as next year.
GI's complain about the free, green pants, et voila! A complete makeover? It truly is Today's Army.
(Credit:
Military Wraps)
While military camouflage patterns for vehicles have evolved, the application process has been stuck in the spray booth. Now, however, GI equivalents of Earl Scheib can apply a precut "wrap" of adhesive vinyl that will blend in on virtually any battlefield.
The process is similar to the advertising and decorative wraps commonly seen on cars and buses, except that this product from Military Wraps, called Photo Veil, is lightweight and incorporates images from cameras on drones, satellites, or lidar in the field and loops them back to be applied to vehicles or equipment as site-specific, high-resolution camouflage.
It combines "megapixel digital images, state-of-the-art inking systems and revolutionary lightweight and waterproof mesh material to duplicate precisely any operational environment," be it mountain, desert, jungle, forest, or urban terrain, according to Military Wraps.
The mesh material also has the advantage of being breathable, which means it can be used for suits and blinds employed by snipers, spotters, and other forward-area types. Photo Veil is being incorporated into Ghillie suits and blinds, according to the Lumberton, N.C.-based company.
What else? The company claims that the material mitigates thermal and infrared footprints, and is portable, waterproof, foldable, customizable for one-way visibility, and scalable to accommodate any size from an individual soldier to an entire unit. Yowza--maybe we can win in Afghanistan.
(Credit:
Parvus)
With the Zypad WR1100, we're getting closer to "beam me up," at least in looks, if not in actual transporter compatibility.
This bit of bling is a ruggerized wrist-worn personal computer designed for the bush. It contains a high performance CPU with 128MB of flash memory and 256MB of RAM.
With the Zypad device, which runs a Linux operating system, one can access a remote host system through integrated wired or wireless interfaces. The unit boasts a special fiberglass-reinforced nylon-magnesium alloy case for maximum durability and minimum weight.
Features include "802.11 and Bluetooth/Zigbee interfaces, a GPS receiver, electronic compass, biometric fingerprint sensor, and a tilt- and dead-reckoning system that detects the position of the user's arm and sets the system to standby mode when the arm is hanging down beside the body."
Battery packs and functions can be switched out or expanded with a modular hot- swap.
The color VGA 640x480-pixel touch screen, which is resistant to water, dust, is clearly readable in direct sunlight, according to Parvus, the Salt Lake City-based engineering company that makes this marvel. The night vision-compliant feature is optional.
The onboard microphone and speaker are dialed for high noise environments. Diddy, you may need one of these.
(Credit:
British Ministry of Defence)
Here's a case in which being a gel head may actually save your life.
The British army is preparing to upgrade its standard-issue combat helmet by adding a viscous, orange gel liner designed to lock instantaneously into a solid shield when impacted by a bullet or shrapnel.
The goo, under development by Blue Divine, uses "intelligent molecules" to "shock lock" together when shot or stabbed, creating a solid pad to absorb energy (see video). The substance, called D30, returns to its "normal flexible state" after the pressure is removed.
"When moved slowly, the molecules will slip past each other, but in a high-energy impact, they will snag and lock together, becoming solid," Blue Divine CEO Richard Palmer said in an interview. "In doing so, they absorb energy."
Non-Newtonian fluids with "shear dependent viscosity," like cornstarch mixed with water, are nothing new to the scientific community.
In 2006, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the University of Delaware patented a fabric that combines Kevlar fibers and silica in a polyethylene glycol gel. The material remains pliable until subjected to impact, whereupon the silica nanoparticles promptly lock together, causing the blow to disperse.
The orange gel is already available in sporting goods such as ski gloves, shin guards, and equestrian equipment. The British Ministry of Defense hopes that it will soon take a load off troops by slimming down their body armor and other protective equipment.
Flying your Bell Ranger in a ball cap is something of a fashion statement. But it lacks that iconic, ant-head panache that until recently only military pilots wearing restricted, government-use-only night vision-equipped helmets could pull off.
(Credit:
Nivisys)
The NVAG-6 Night Vision Goggles change all that. They're the first night vision goggle certified by the FAA for civilian use, according to manufacturer Nivisys. Of course, looks are not what will sell this gear. It's the safety margin they can potentially add to low-light and nighttime flying (PDF).
"This is a historical moment for civil aviator night vision safety. Nivisys is now the first and only company certified for the production of night vision goggles under FAA TSO-C164," said Nivisys CEO Allen Harding.
The unit can be used with fixed and rotary winged aircraft, according to the company. You'll probably want one just to avoiding doing a "Bill Graham," but the company foresees wide use in many after-dark flight operations, such as offshore oil rigging, logging, power line and high-rise work, and search and rescue.
The NVAG-6 comprises a lightweight binocular made of anodized aluminum that can be mounted to a variety of helmets. The 25mm eye relief eyepieces are individually adjustable and even work for operators wearing prescription glasses or contacts. A flip-up base allows for fine tuning for fore/aft adjustments.
The goggles automatically turn off when the helmet mount is flipped up, which prevents tube damage in case of exposure to bright lights. They run on AAs, which are presumably not included.
(Credit:
Mark Rutherford)
Here's the new Navy enlisted, BDU-style uniform as displayed at the Defense Logistic Agency exhibit booth, Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association West 2008 (AFCEA) conference in sunny San Diego, CA.
The new Navy Working Uniform (NWU) will include several cold weather options, such as a unisex pullover sweater, a fleece jacket, and a parka. It comes in three camo patterns, the main one being the blue/gray variant you see here, with woodland and desert digital palette for those going ashore.
The permanent press, 50/50 nylon and cotton blend NWU will replace seven different styles of current working uniforms and is to be worn with a blue cotton t-shirt, eight-point USMC-style cover, a black web belt and black leather boots, according to the Navy.
"These are good uniforms, designed to support the modern Sailor," said then Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen who approved plans for the new outfit. "Durability, safety, ease of wear and cleaning were all factors that weighed heavily on my mind. This wasn't a popularity contest by any stretch, but we would have been foolish not to consider the opinions of the men and women who will wear these uniforms."
But a few of those men and women who filed by the exhibit were less than impressed. Biggest complaint...what's with the buttons? Two for each pocket. This is 2008, how 'bout some Velcro? And why no waist band adjuster strap?
"We'll be getting complaints three hours after these are issued," one Navy Captain grumbled as he filed out the comment form offered up by the DLA guy.
Next up for the sartorial service could be a revival of the Service Dress Khaki, a new pea coat and maybe a ceremonial cutlass for chiefs.
(Credit:
P2i)
Imagine buying sneakers and cell phones waterproofed with the same stuff.
You may be able to do that soon with the development of something called Ion Mask, a cold plasma surface enhancement technology developed by the U.K.'s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and the University of Durham now being marketed by spin-off Porton Plasma Innovations (P2i.)
When applied, the technology invisibly modifies the surface of products making them super oil and water repellant. How repellant? It's three times more effective than Teflon, according to P2i.
The treatment works by decreasing the surface energy of virtually any object with an ionized gas or "plasma" mere nanometers thick, according to P2i. In the case of cell phones, PDAs, and other electronics this invisible "enhancement" not only waterproofs the outside, but the insides as well; with no damage to precision components. Water bounces off treated surfaces "like beads of mercury" with no change to the look, feel, or performance, according to the company.
"Ion Mask is extremely effective against the problem of moisture ingress as it can be applied to the most intricate electronic objects without damaging the precious circuitry," said P2i's Ian Robins. "The process is particularly well suited to high value applications such as MP3 players, which are required to perform outdoors in all weather conditions, or other small, lightweight electronic items which may be inadvertently worn in the shower or while swimming."
The technology was originally developed by the British Ministry of Defence to protect soldiers from chemical and biological weapons. P2i and its investors at Circus Capital Technology expected it to revolutionize everything from water-repellent footwear to sportswear to medical disposables to the long awaited shower phone.
P2i has shown that it's not shy about licensing the technology. Check out Whizaway.com ; "The World's First Antibacterial and Hydrophobic Urine Director" designed for both disabled and active, outdoorsy women. Plasma enhancement insures that no "residual droplets of urine" are left on the device, so that it may be confidently stowed after use. Revolutionary indeed.
(Credit:
Blackhawk Products Group)
Maybe bleeding to death is the last thing you think about in the morning as you pull on your pants, but it could happen.
That's why a Norfolk, VA based manufacturer of military and law enforcement equipment has developed a uniform with built-in tourniquets, which it says will save lives on the battlefield.
The Warrior Wear Integrated Tourniquet System by Blackhawk Products Group has eight tourniquets; four in the pants and four in the shirt (two in the short sleeve version), which may, in case of injury, be constricted immediately with one hand by the wearer, their buddy or a medic.
Military medics are leery of an over-reliance on tourniquets, because although they save lives in battle, many soldiers later require amputation. In 2002 the FDA approved a bandage developed from chitin, a natural polymer found in shrimp shells that could stanch bleeding at up to 300 milliliters per 30 seconds that was supposed to render the tourniquet obsolete. It was even safe for soldiers allergic to shrimp, but apparently it has yet to pan out.
Quick deployment of a tourniquet minimizes blood loss, the single cause of death from injuries sustained to the extremities among troops, according to studies.
"Sixty percent of preventable combat deaths are from extremity bleeding and 50-70% of all combat injuries are extremity wounds," explained Dr. Keith Rose who worked with Blackhawk R&D to develop the product. "The fact that you can always find the tourniquet with the Integrated Tourniquet system and the speed with which you can immediately apply it will dramatically impact not only loss of life but also the amount of time that it takes to recover from extreme blood loss injuries."
The uniform is designed to allow soldiers to train with the system over and over rather than having to replace each tourniquet after a single use. Priced around $200, machine washable.
