Anthropometric Casualty Estimation Methodologies

The design of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for force protection is critical for Soldier survivability and effectiveness for a range of combat operations. Supporting Army technology priorities for force protection, Technology Solutions Experts, Inc. (TSE) proposes to research, develop, and demonstrate new approaches for analyzing fit and form of PPE, specifically body armor systems, to better account for a range of individual body shape differences and enhance Soldier protection. TSEs approach will leverage high-resolution digital 3D scans collected of active duty Soldiers, and build on existing Army models to provide improved analysis capabilities to Army scientists and engineers engaged in the design of current and future PPE systems. In Phase I, TSE will perform a needs assessment, develop a methodology to study PPE fit and form, identify potential technological solutions and integration into existing systems, demonstrate a proof of concept to establish soundness of the approach, and deliver a report detailing the proposed design, rationale for design choices, tradeoffs, and further areas of study.