Posted on Dec 11, 2014
Start-up may revolutionize fit of body armor, other gear
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From: Army Times
With female soldiers moving toward more involved combat roles, the Army had to re-think body armor, particularly how to tailor it to the female form.
But that has become the tip of the iceberg: a new deal with a contractor could have a much wider range of applications through a profile of thousands of soldiers' body types allowing for all kinds of better-fitting gear.
Manhattan start-up Body Labs officially started its $825,000 two-year contract with the Army in September, and along with that will come data and modeling that could better outfit soldiers in the future. On Monday they unveiled a vision for the future, which includes a more scientific, analytic and efficient approach to sizing, starting with body armor.
"Our vision of the future is a soldier walks into basic training, the Army scans you with a body scanner, and you walk out with boots and helmet that fit you really well. Not custom made because that's too expensive, but that fit really well," said CEO and founder William O'Farrell. "I think they understand the broader need."
The contract includes access to scanning capabilities, data and analytic tools that could turn the Small-Medium-Large-XL continuum on its head. Brian Corner, a PhD and research anthropologist for the Army's Natick Soldier Systems Center, said in an email to Army Times that a lot of applications and analysis would become possible for the first time.
"Previously, we worked with standing manikins and only one or a few body shapes and sizes. Thus, the work done by Body Labs provides a much richer design and engineering environment," Corner said. "My opinion, and the Army may have a different opinion, is that the software capability provided by Body Labs will change fundamentally the design and engineering environment."
While female soldiers have already tested out new armor that adjusts for some differences from men's body shapes, this technology would further add to options and ways armor — and other gear — can become more comfortable and improve in its performance. Corner said key assumptions include a robust database and a fairly easy way to scan soldiers.
O'Farrell started the company with a trio of other founders from Brown University that include experts in computer science and other systems and other fields in the Max Plank Institute for Intelligent Systems. The company has accumulated a database of about 12,000 soldiers, half of them women, providing 3-D avatars that will give the Army a statistical understanding of the different body types and shapes, including how the body moves and shifts into different positions.
The company started in the last year but some of the group's research was funded by the Army as far back as 2009.
While the data and more varied body types addressed may increase the number of sizes, O'Farrell said, the more accurate understanding of the Army's population of body types will help to more comfortably outfit more soldiers with less waste in over-produced sizes.
"Small, medium and large don't address the 3-D shape of the body. Shapes of sizes will be much more accurate to fit the population that's targeted," said O'Farrell, an adjunct business professor at Columbia University.
In addition, Corner acknowledged another possible source of savings: testing new models on a representative, diverse array of body types can earlier catch design problems that might impair movements, among other fit concerns.
O'Farrell said the Army, in particular Natick, will have the ability to make the economic choices on the number of sizes to produce and the design of the vests — and whatever else the Army chooses to use the data to produce.
"The big picture is understanding the geometry of the human body. From there you connect to everything the body touches," O'Farrell said.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/tech/2014/12/10/female-soldiers-body-armor-body-labs-natick/20197983/
With female soldiers moving toward more involved combat roles, the Army had to re-think body armor, particularly how to tailor it to the female form.
But that has become the tip of the iceberg: a new deal with a contractor could have a much wider range of applications through a profile of thousands of soldiers' body types allowing for all kinds of better-fitting gear.
Manhattan start-up Body Labs officially started its $825,000 two-year contract with the Army in September, and along with that will come data and modeling that could better outfit soldiers in the future. On Monday they unveiled a vision for the future, which includes a more scientific, analytic and efficient approach to sizing, starting with body armor.
"Our vision of the future is a soldier walks into basic training, the Army scans you with a body scanner, and you walk out with boots and helmet that fit you really well. Not custom made because that's too expensive, but that fit really well," said CEO and founder William O'Farrell. "I think they understand the broader need."
The contract includes access to scanning capabilities, data and analytic tools that could turn the Small-Medium-Large-XL continuum on its head. Brian Corner, a PhD and research anthropologist for the Army's Natick Soldier Systems Center, said in an email to Army Times that a lot of applications and analysis would become possible for the first time.
"Previously, we worked with standing manikins and only one or a few body shapes and sizes. Thus, the work done by Body Labs provides a much richer design and engineering environment," Corner said. "My opinion, and the Army may have a different opinion, is that the software capability provided by Body Labs will change fundamentally the design and engineering environment."
While female soldiers have already tested out new armor that adjusts for some differences from men's body shapes, this technology would further add to options and ways armor — and other gear — can become more comfortable and improve in its performance. Corner said key assumptions include a robust database and a fairly easy way to scan soldiers.
O'Farrell started the company with a trio of other founders from Brown University that include experts in computer science and other systems and other fields in the Max Plank Institute for Intelligent Systems. The company has accumulated a database of about 12,000 soldiers, half of them women, providing 3-D avatars that will give the Army a statistical understanding of the different body types and shapes, including how the body moves and shifts into different positions.
The company started in the last year but some of the group's research was funded by the Army as far back as 2009.
While the data and more varied body types addressed may increase the number of sizes, O'Farrell said, the more accurate understanding of the Army's population of body types will help to more comfortably outfit more soldiers with less waste in over-produced sizes.
"Small, medium and large don't address the 3-D shape of the body. Shapes of sizes will be much more accurate to fit the population that's targeted," said O'Farrell, an adjunct business professor at Columbia University.
In addition, Corner acknowledged another possible source of savings: testing new models on a representative, diverse array of body types can earlier catch design problems that might impair movements, among other fit concerns.
O'Farrell said the Army, in particular Natick, will have the ability to make the economic choices on the number of sizes to produce and the design of the vests — and whatever else the Army chooses to use the data to produce.
"The big picture is understanding the geometry of the human body. From there you connect to everything the body touches," O'Farrell said.
http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/tech/2014/12/10/female-soldiers-body-armor-body-labs-natick/20197983/
Posted in these groups: 
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 17
Having been married to a Female Police Officer I know that ballistic body armor has to be tailored specifically for the female anatomy. If a female wears a male vest and gets shot, it may not work right and it could result in fatality.
Tailoring for female Soldiers is a smart move.
Tailoring for female Soldiers is a smart move.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I remember a while ago we did testing for this and the changes they made were well worth it. In the meantime our MSG gave us hints to work with the body armor until it has been officially introduced into the Army. On of them that has really helped me was letting our hair down when in the prone position. When we lay in the prone our buns forces our ACH to be pushed down in the front and obstructs our vision so letting the bun out allows us to tighten our ACH and tile it back so we do not have any distractions. I can't wait for the changes and I'm glad that the Army is finally realizing that we as females would be more effective if we had the right gear... Good post CSM
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SGT Bryon Sergent
I have this to say about the ACH. I have problems with also while in the prone! The IOTV and the IBA both push the ACH forward. I have adjusted it to fit and adjusted the back straps. What is the purpose of adjusting to see in the prone and adjusting to CORRECT level of the ACH when not in the prone. What was wrong with the Kevlar. Yes the suspension system sucked. Yes the Chin strap sucked. At least you didn't have to adjust it every time you where in a different position. prone, Low Crawling, high crawling, running walking it stayed where you needed it.
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I still find it ironic that the Army went with a company that is run by a man for female body armor. Too bad they weren't aware of FEMTAC, woman veteran owned female tactical gear company.
Not for nothing, but I'm pretty sure a woman veteran has a bit of insight to this wardrobe challenge.
Not for nothing, but I'm pretty sure a woman veteran has a bit of insight to this wardrobe challenge.
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SFC Jeff Stevenson
Based on your response, I see you forget that most of the main designers for female fashion are male, and European. Versace comes to mind, and pretty sure he does well.
Females might know their bodies, but the military isn't fashion minded and simple rules apply. Protection doesn't fit perfectly, is very uncomfortable and heavy. Just my 2 cents.
And as for combat, not saying women are not doing their fair share, and some even more, but combat is usually male driven. Did not know about FEMTAC but will now research them. Thank You
Females might know their bodies, but the military isn't fashion minded and simple rules apply. Protection doesn't fit perfectly, is very uncomfortable and heavy. Just my 2 cents.
And as for combat, not saying women are not doing their fair share, and some even more, but combat is usually male driven. Did not know about FEMTAC but will now research them. Thank You
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It sounds like a solid concept and I look forward to seeing the results one day. That being said, it makes a little too much sense so the army must scrap it...
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