http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040429/ap_on_sc/hi_tech_body_armor_1
Hope this stuff passes all the tests.
Hope this stuff passes all the tests.
Coooooool!
- Thread starter I.S.T.
- Start date
PenguinJim
Newcomer
This stuff may claim to stop both fast and slow penetrations, but nothing stops Jimmy the Penguin. 
digitalwanderer
Legend
Except a scary rash...PenguinJim said:This stuff may claim to stop both fast and slow penetrations, but nothing stops Jimmy the Penguin.
PenguinJim
Newcomer
Actually, that's the signature I leave behinddigitalwanderer said:Except a scary rash...
It's pretty nifty how they created an emulsion of ceramic particles in a viscous fluid. On impact, it looks like it kind of creates a microscopic version of medieval chain or scale mail.
With any luck, there might not be a problem with shelf life or suboptimal conditions. It'd probably suck in cold weather, and there could be problems with the liquid congealing or polymerizing over time, which could reduce its effectiveness.
In addition, I hope they make the uniforms self-sealing, as I'd hate to find out in the middle of a firefight that my bulletproof vest had leaked out because of a tear it got from getting out of a humvee.
With any luck, there might not be a problem with shelf life or suboptimal conditions. It'd probably suck in cold weather, and there could be problems with the liquid congealing or polymerizing over time, which could reduce its effectiveness.
In addition, I hope they make the uniforms self-sealing, as I'd hate to find out in the middle of a firefight that my bulletproof vest had leaked out because of a tear it got from getting out of a humvee.
I think i saw somewhere the operating temp on this armor is in the -20 to -50 C range.
From what i read its going to be meant mainly for areas like elbows, shins, knees, shoulders etc.
Kind of ironic for a few hundred years armor was being phased out, now its being phased in.
for good reason. Its good to finally see our tech starting to protect better against bullets. It should greatly reduce casualties, lost limbs from amputation, basically all around survivability.
I think i read somewhere they want to keep "soldiers from becoming the weakest link" Or something to that effect. Basically they're putting more money into upgrading soldiers. Upgrading...heh. I guess they are viewed as another machine.
With the billions we pump into r and d for this stuff youd think we'd have halo style armor by now
I've wondered for a long time if mechs would be a valuable weapon. If you could protect them from rpgs and IEDs they would be great for the moral effect. (im talking like 15-20 feet tall)
Really if the point is to increase individual firepower, and survivability then mechs would be a great option. Although youd need the skill of a pilot to operate one, i dont see why it isnt possible. Now whether it would be effective is a whole other story.
From what i read its going to be meant mainly for areas like elbows, shins, knees, shoulders etc.
Kind of ironic for a few hundred years armor was being phased out, now its being phased in.
for good reason. Its good to finally see our tech starting to protect better against bullets. It should greatly reduce casualties, lost limbs from amputation, basically all around survivability.
I think i read somewhere they want to keep "soldiers from becoming the weakest link" Or something to that effect. Basically they're putting more money into upgrading soldiers. Upgrading...heh. I guess they are viewed as another machine.
With the billions we pump into r and d for this stuff youd think we'd have halo style armor by now
I've wondered for a long time if mechs would be a valuable weapon. If you could protect them from rpgs and IEDs they would be great for the moral effect. (im talking like 15-20 feet tall)
Really if the point is to increase individual firepower, and survivability then mechs would be a great option. Although youd need the skill of a pilot to operate one, i dont see why it isnt possible. Now whether it would be effective is a whole other story.
Mechs might someday be useful in special circumstances, but I'd hold off using them in most arenas of combat until some serious tech discoveries beyond just basic mechanized suits.
Being that big means it's hard to hide and to take cover, so the mech would have to be much more maneuverable or armored to compensate. This winds up making the soldier the weakest link again, since a mech might be able to take the strain of a 50 foot vertical leap, but the guy inside really couldn't.
Being that big means it's hard to hide and to take cover, so the mech would have to be much more maneuverable or armored to compensate. This winds up making the soldier the weakest link again, since a mech might be able to take the strain of a 50 foot vertical leap, but the guy inside really couldn't.
horvendile
Regular
Let's see... it stops fast intrusions... Dune, anyone?
