IBM Files Patent for Bullet Dodging Bionic Body Armor

techfragments ^ | 2009-02-13 10:39:43 | ibm

[Flavius]

IBM has filed a patent (US 7484451) for Bionic Body Armor, that could essentially allow us to dodge bullets like Neo in The Matrix. The armor would scan areas for incoming projectiles and when one is detected the system would deliver a shock to the muscles causing a swift reflexive action away from the projectile. Here's what the patent describes the body armor as:

A method of protecting a target from a projectile propelled from a firearm comprises detecting an approaching projectile, continuously monitoring the projectile and transmitting an actual position of the projectile to a controller, computing an estimated projectile trajectory based upon the actual position of the projectile, determining an actual position of a target with a plurality of position sensors and a plurality of attitude sensors, determining whether the estimated projectile trajectory coincides with the actual position of the target, and triggering a plurality of muscle stimulators operably coupled to the controller and to the target when the estimated projectile trajectory coincides with the actual position of the target, wherein the muscle stimulators stimulate the target to move in a predefined manner, and wherein the target moves by an amount sufficient to avoid any contact with the approaching projectile. The projectile may be detected in the detecting step by emitting an electromagnetic wave from a projectile detector and receiving the electromagnetic wave after the electromagnetic wave has been reflected back toward the projectile detector by the projectile.

[Flavius]

makes the 2nd more obsolete by the day only the noble ruling class will be able to afford one

peasants well you know what you get

[WOBBLY BOB]

dodging faster than Obama at a press conference?

[Crim]

So I can put someone into a wall with a party popper!...

Woot!..

[benjibrowder]

This could be hilariously exploited, and perhaps dangerous in combat.

[Joe 6-pack]

"...makes the 2nd more obsolete by the day..."

Nope...just makes small unit tactics more critical. Can't dodge two bullets coming from opposite directions.

[xcamel]

"Early tests of the new body armor were 'problematic'...."

[WOBBLY BOB]

..”dance for me” pow,pow,pow...

[bmwcyle]

IBM ping

[Flavius]

Could you please let me be paranoid its the only thing i got left.

[Centurion2000]

Machineguns will make ya weave like a 2 year old ferret on a triple espresso trying to breakdance.

[TheWasteLand]

From the article:

UPDATE: IBM has since, pulled the patent.

[faloi]

Frankly, from the sounds of it it'll be easier than that. Throw a handful of rocks toward someone wearing this high-speed armor, then shoot at them when impulses directing the body toward conflicting movement freezes them in place.

'Course I'd hate to take a Taser while wearing a system geared to make sure I get electrical impulses in a plurality of places to keep me safe.

[skimbell]

You probably could, but the wearer might wind up being electrocuted.

[Joe 6-pack]

<>i>"Could you please let me be paranoid its the only thing i got left."

My tactics are driven by paranoia ;-)

[Joe 6-pack]

A simple “L”-shaped ambush would have the wearers break-dancing like a racoon on crack.

[rednesss]

"allow us to dodge bullets like Neo in The Matrix"

[DBrow]

Let's see, incoming at 3000 fps from 50 yards (150 feet) away. Flight time 50 milliseconds.

Point of impact chest center, average target size 20”. Dodge distance ten inches. Dodge speed (10/12)/.05

Dodge velocity 17 fps, initial velocity 0, time .05= acceleration is 340 ft/sec^2, or about eleven G in round numbers.

This assumes 100% detection at the time of projectile launch. Any delay adds greatly to the acceleration; if the suit relies on an acoustic signal, the projectile impacts before the sound.

So if this scheme works, the subject will be exposed to an 11G BANG to dodge the bullet, assuming that the suit dodges in the correct direction.

Ouch.

[Centurion2000]

How well will it do against buckshot?

[The Duke]

Newton said it best: F = MA

I think I'll let somebody else wear that body armor.

[Atlas Sneezed]

So if this scheme works, the subject will be exposed to an 11G BANG to dodge the bullet, assuming that the suit dodges in the correct direction.

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And it seems the bang comes from the subject’s own muscles, triggered by an electric shock. I wonder if nerve impulses and muscle action are really fast enough to do this for any nearby shots.