CREARE LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N132-084

Description

Non-lethal weapons (NLWs) are increasingly being used in conflict situations where lethal force is undesirable. As new non-lethal systems are developed, careful evaluation is required to confirm both effectiveness and non-lethality over various payload and range conditions. Computer simulations can be an extremely useful NLW effects evaluation tool at a significantly reduced cost compared with testing on animal models and human subjects. The Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP) has developed a suite of computer models to predict the risk of significant injury resulting from NLW stimuli, but it requires an efficient method for gathering accurate input data to calibrate these models. Creare proposes to develop a Modular Anatomical Test Target (MATT) that simulates the relevant characteristics of human anatomy sufficiently accurately for human effects model validation. Our MATT will be instrumented to collect high-resolution, time dependent data on sound levels at the ear, light incident on the eyes, external and internal body pressure, bone strain, chemical concentration, and electromagnetic field intensity. In Phase I, we will demonstrate the feasibility of our approach by fabricating and testing a prototype head and torso target. In Phase II, we will develop a production version of the full body target.