Helmet Measures Blast Impact

Explosions create shock waves that can cause brain injury, which might go undiagnosed for a long time.  To deal with this problem in the Iraq War, DARPA funded the Palo Alto Research Center’s development of a disposable plastic strip, embedded with sensors, to measure explosive power.  The strip fits onto a soldier’s helmet, costs less than a dollar, and can record a week’s worth of experiences before being replaced by another strip.  Applications for sports helmets, miners’ headgear, and firemen’s hoods are obvious.            MORE

Image Credit: Palo Alto Research Center and Technology Review