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Engineers Design a Bulletproof Origami Shield to Protect Law Enforcement

posted by Fnord666 on Saturday February 18 2017, @12:47AM   Printer-friendly
from the not-made-of-paper dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

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.
...
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?

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  • (Score: 2) by Snotnose on Saturday February 18 2017, @02:51AM

    by Snotnose (1623) on Saturday February 18 2017, @02:51AM (#468469)

    How many Chicago thugs are shooting Barrett .50 cal rifles at anyone? They're shooting 9mm rounds from car windows.

    I'm gonna guess protecting yourself from a .357 will protect you from 99% of the threats you encounter. The other 1% will be so off the scale (30-.06 hunting rifle) will be so rare you'll never see it.

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @03:53AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 18 2017, @03:53AM (#468484)

    How many Chicago thugs are shooting Barrett .50 cal rifles at anyone?

    Well, all of them! Have you not been listening to the Donald, our Loser President? Half of Chicago is worse than the Middle West, or something! Chi-raq, as I think Spike Lee put it. Iraq war vets, who brought their tools of the trade home with them, and now SOMEBODY went an drew Frist Blood! John Rambo!!! I blame him, and John McCain.