AUTOMATING THE WORKFLOW OF GENERATING CUSTOM 3D PRINTED WARFIGHTER HELMET LINERS FOR SCALE-UP MANUFACTURING

The issue of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in military personnel is of utmost significance and demands urgent attention. From 2000-2022, about 468k TBIs were reported by military personnel. Serving in high-risk environments, soldiers are exposed to the constant threat of head injuries, which can have severe and long-lasting consequences on their health and well-being. TBI can lead to cognitive impairments, memory loss, and even permanent disabilities, impacting not only the affected individuals but also their families and communities. To address this critical challenge, there is a pressing need for advanced helmet liner technology. Custom 3D printed helmet liners combined with ImpressioÆs ultra energy-absorbing Liquid Crystal Elastomer (LCE) material offer a superior solution by providing a personalized, safe, and comfortable fit for each warfighter, optimizing impact absorption, and minimizing the risk of traumatic brain injuries.ĀThe primary goal of this project is to automate our developedĀworkflow involved in producing custom 3D-printed lattice helmet liners for scale-up manufacturing and commercialization of the final product. By automating the workflow process for generating these custom liners, scalability can be achieved, making this technology accessible to a broader range of military personnel and significantly enhancing warfighter protection.