BLast Attenuating Solder Safety Seat (BLASSS)

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) will develop the BLast Attenuating Soldier Safety Seat (BLASSS) which acts as a rigidly sprung seat during normal operations and a compliant, energy-dissipating seat during explosive events. BLASSS consists of a hexapod shock absorber arrangement that reduces accelerations in all six degrees of freedom. During normal operation, the system is stiff, minimizing motion and keeping the soldier from oscillating uncomfortably. During an explosive event BLASSS will transform to its compliant state, enabling a spring-damper assembly to dissipate the impact energy. Following a blast, the seat automatically returns to its normal operation position and is ready for the next impact. During the Phase I program, PSI will design a decoupling attenuator system that reduces a 350 g, half sine pulse input (from multiple directions) to below 18 g. The system will include six shock absorbing mechanisms arranged in a lightweight, mechanically simple configuration that protects against all six degrees of motion. During the Phase II program, PSI will manufacture full-scale prototypes for drop tower testing. PSI will refine the design and work with transition partner QinetiQ North America (QNA) to prepare for low-rate initial production (LRIP) during CRP.