Heat Flux Gauged Instrumented, Articulated Manikin

In this Phase I program, Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and its sub contractor, First Technology Safety Systems, Inc. (FTSS), propose to demonstrate the technology necessary to develop an advanced instrumented thermal manikin for use in the quantitative assessment of burn hazards and the performance of protective clothing. PSI will redesign our existing and successful heat flux sensor, developed for Army live fire testing, for integration into anthropometrically correct articulated instrumented manikins provided by FTSS. In addition to heat flux, this sensor can simultaneously measure blast overpressure which is often associated with fires. The proposed program includes a requirements analysis, proof of concept designs, the fabrication and testing of a concept design, and a Phase II plan for the complete development testing and delivery of prototype manikins. The detailed design of the prototype manikin is included as a Phase I option task. The successful completion of this program, Phase I and II, will provide the Navy with a new and quantitative capability for the evaluation of fire retardant clothing worn by personnel exposed to shipboard fires.