Articulated Soldier Knee and Elbow Protection System

In today’s urban warfare, soldiers operate in austere environments where they are confronted with a seemingly endless variety of ballistic and impact threats. High intensity ballistic threats go beyond traditional small arms fire and now include an increasing number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) of many forms. Lower intensity impacts are encountered from blunt force weapons and daily contact with harsh urban surfaces like roadways, buildings, and piles of debris. Resulting injuries to arm and leg joints cause immediate and severe debilitation during combat, often leading to costly and lifelong disabilities. During combat, subsequent degradation of combat power and increased vulnerability to both the victim and responding medical personnel is inevitable. TIAX is proposing to combine advanced materials with novel constructions and human factors considerations to provide protection from both ballistics and impact trauma. Dimensional modeling and finite element analysis will be used to assess proper material selection among pre-selected candidates. Innovative articulation and retention systems will ensure soldier maneuverability for enhanced safety and effectiveness.