NEWPORT SENSORS INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A14-017

Description

This project develops a wearable high-durability film sensor system with a distributed sensing capability for directly measurement and 3D mapping of ballistic, blast, and blunt impact pressure on soldiers heads and bodies. Such sensors are also needed for ballistic and blast testing of soldier protective equipment. The proposal team was the first to develop the film pressure sensor technology for the measurement of such extreme impact events. Based on their prior work, the team has identified key technical challenges and proposed novel approaches. The Phase-I effort will investigate the feasibility of these approaches through (1) a preliminary design of deformable, conformable and high-resolution pressure film sensor, together with their printing inks and (2) sensor performance evaluation through blunt, ballistic and blast testing. Upon a successful demonstration of the film sensor feasibility in terms of the measurement accuracy, time response, and durability, a prototype wearable sensor system will be developed and tested with soldier protective equipment in Phase II.