Articulating Thermal Sensing Manikin System for Burn Injury Prediction

To address the Navys need for a manikin that can provide comprehensive testing of thermal protection clothing in a flame-filled environment, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to continue developing the ARticulated THErmal SEnsing MAnikin (ARTHESEMA). The prototype built during Phase I was based on a new design that uses POC-developed G10-FR4 structural elements and pneumatic actuators. Innovations in durable air muscles enable realistic repeated body movements in a flame-filled environment to accurately test the functionality of protective clothing under thermal and mechanical stress. As a result, this innovative technology will allow accurate testing of the functionality of protective clothing under thermal and mechanical stress, directly addressing platform requirements. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of ARTHESEMA by fabricating a partial prototype, consisting of an articulated thermal sensing arm. This arm is currently in use at the Navy Clothing and Textile Research facility in Natick, MA. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and fabricate a full-scale manikin in combination with a embedded data acquisition system and traversing system based on the lessons learned from the Phase I development.