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BYU engineering professors have created an origami-inspired, lightweight bulletproof shield that can protect law enforcement from gunfire.
The new barrier can be folded compactly when not in use, making it easier to transport and deploy. When expanded—which takes only five seconds—it can provide cover for officers and stop bullets from several types of handguns.
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In working with law enforcement, BYU researchers learned much of what is currently used hasn't evolved much from medieval times: shields that are mostly flat, awkward plates that cover only one person. Current barriers are so heavy and cumbersome they make it difficult for officers to move into position.The barrier Howell and his colleagues designed is made of 12 layers of bulletproof Kevlar and weighs only 55 pounds (many of the steel-based barriers in current use approach 100 pounds). The BYU-built barrier uses a Yoshimura origami crease pattern to expand around an officer, providing protection on the side in addition to protecting them in the front.
Aren't police using exploding robots in that kind of situation now?
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Saturday February 18 2017, @02:11AM
Yes, an armed society is a polite society. However, a police state that spends half it's time ensuring that the non-police members of society are unarmed isn't an armed society. Please don't mistake the US for an armed society. More than half of the US population lives in cities and states with draconian gun laws, and aggressive police forces. The only armed people are the police, and criminals.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @03:07AM
The only armed people are the police, and criminals.
AND Runaway1956. Hmmm, I wonder which category he fits into?
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Saturday February 18 2017, @03:22AM
I happen to live in a state with more reasonable gun laws. If I've broken any gun laws in my lifetime, then they were obscure nonsense laws that no one even mentions, unless and until law enforcement is going after someone.
Now, the real question is - do you support unjust laws, just because you're afraid of guns?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @03:45AM
Who said anything about gun laws? Something to hide, Runaway?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @06:14AM
His point stands tho. Owning guns these days is like collecting model trains. Cops can abuse the law abiding quite easily guns or not.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @09:13AM
"Guns don't kill people, model trains kill people!" Yep, right behind you on this one, Bevis! The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a model train set, is a good guy, . . . etc., etc.,. . . And you wonder why people mock you so!