Patent Publication Number: US-8991085-B1

Title: Electrical weapon system

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This disclosure relates generally to weapons systems, and more particularly to an electrical weapon system. 
     In a close quarters battle (CQB) scenario, a team of personnel, such as soldiers or police, may enter a structure, quickly eliminate any opposition, and capture a target. Close quarters combat requires rapid domination of a room, elimination of the enemy with discriminating fire, gaining and maintaining control of the situation and all personnel in the room, while maintaining security and being able to react to enemy contact. When facing combatants in a CQB scenario, a range of options are available, such as assault rifles, grenades, pistols, knives, and grappling techniques. However, such options may be inappropriate for noncombatants, such as a combatant&#39;s wife or children, which may pose a threat and require neutralization. The noncombatants may, for example, grab, block, and distract personnel in the CQB scenario. Pushing away noncombatants may not be effective to neutralize the threat; lethal force may not be appropriate or authorized; and brute force may not be desirable. There are a variety of nonlethal devices available for dealing with noncombatants, including bean bag rounds for a shotgun, active denial, optical and sonic stun devices, and water cannons. However, some drawbacks of such nonlethal devices include potential for confusion with gunfire and sympathetic lethal fire from teammates in the case of bean bag rounds, relatively large size, weight, and/or power requirements, and the need for personnel to switch between lethal and non-lethal weaponry. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, an electrical weapon system includes a power supply; a control electronics connected to the power supply; and an electrode pair, wherein the control electronics are configured to deliver a voltage having a determined voltage level and modulation across the electrode pair based on the electrode pair coming into contact with a target, and wherein the electrode pair is integrated into clothing or equipment of a user. 
     Additional features are realized through the techniques of the present exemplary embodiment. Other embodiments are described in detail herein and are considered a part of what is claimed. For a better understanding of the features of the exemplary embodiment, refer to the description and to the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring now to the drawings wherein like elements are numbered alike in the several FIGURES: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electrical weapon system; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of control electronics for an electrical weapon system; 
         FIGS. 3   a - c  illustrate embodiments of electrodes for an electrical weapon system; 
         FIGS. 4   a - b  illustrate embodiments of spring-loaded electrodes for an electrical weapon system; 
         FIGS. 5   a - b  illustrate embodiments of electrodes including a conductive liquid solution for an electrical weapon system; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a user with an electrical weapon system; and 
         FIGS. 7-12  illustrate electrode locations for an electrical weapon system according to various embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of an electrical weapon system are provided, with exemplary embodiments being discussed below in detail. The electrical weapon system may comprise one or more electrical stun devices that are placed at various locations on a user. The electrical stun devices provide an electric shock to a target, such as a noncombatant in a CQB scenario, when placed in contact with the target. In various embodiments, the electrical stun devices may be integrated into shoulder pads, knee pads, a user&#39;s clothing, a harness that is worn by the user, and/or any other appropriate equipment of the user, such as a helmet, gun, or boot. The electrical weapon system comprises a hands-free weapon that may be used by personnel (for example, soldiers or police personnel) for neutralization of combatants or noncombatants in close quarters situations. The electrical weapon system enables nonlethal and fast subjugation of an opponent without requiring a weapons switch by the user from a lethal to a nonlethal alternative, such that the user does not need to take their hands off of their weapon. The effectiveness of the user during grappling with an opponent is also improved by the electrical weapon system. 
     In some embodiments, the electrical stun devices of the electrical weapon system may comprise pressure and/or proximity activated electrodes that deliver a shock to a target when an electrode pair is in contact with the target. In various embodiments, the electrical weapon system may have various selectable shock levels that may be used to dissuade or to incapacitate a target, as desired by the user. The selection of the shock level may be made automatically by the electrical weapon system based on sensor data in some embodiments. For example, a user brushing aside a noncombatant may apply relatively mild, cattle prod-like pulses, while higher pressure associated with a knee kick applied to a target by the user may result in application of an incapacitating voltage level and modulation of current. The electrical discharge comprising the shock that is delivered across the electrodes may also be tuned to achieve a variety of effects. For example, the polarity, voltage, and current across the electrodes may be varied over time so that the electrical shock provided by the electrodes to the target is set to a particular modulation and/or waveform in order to create a desired effect, such as confusing a target&#39;s muscles. A pressure-activated electrode deployment mechanism may be incorporated into the electrodes such that a target&#39;s clothing may be penetrated by the electrodes and electrical contact made with a target. A conductive fluid may also be used in conjunction with the electrodes to increase electrical contact with a target. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of an electrical weapon system  100 . The electrical weapon system  100  includes control electronics  102 , which receives power from power supply  101 , in addition to inputs from user interface  103  and sensors  105 . The electrodes  104  comprise one or more pairs of electrodes that are controlled by the control electronics  102  and are capable of delivering an electrical shock to a target based on a target coming into contact with the electrodes  104 . The power supply  101  provides the electrical power that is used to produce the electrical shock across the electrodes  104  via the control electronics  102 . In some embodiments, power supply  101  comprises a battery. The control electronics  102  may use power from the power supply  101  to charge up one or more capacitors, or other appropriate energy storage devices, that are located in the control electronics  102 ; these capacitors are discharged across the electrodes  104  when the circuit comprising the electrodes  104  is closed via contact of the electrodes  104  with a target. The connection between power supply  101  and control electronics  102 , and between control electronics  102  and electrodes  104 , comprise physical, wired connections. The one or more pairs of electrodes  104  each comprise a respective cathode and anode; multiple pairs of electrodes  104  may be controlled by single control electronics  102  in some embodiments. In further embodiments that include multiple sets of electrodes  104 , one or more sets of electrodes may have respective separate control electronics  102 ; in such embodiments, the electrical weapon system may include one or more power supplies  101 . 
     User interface  103  allows the user to activate or deactivate the electrical weapon system  100  via control electronics  102 . In some embodiments, the user interface  103  may also allow the user to change an operating mode of the electrical weapon system  100 . The various operating modes may specify different levels and/or types of shocks that may be delivered by the electrical weapon system  100 . User interface  103  may include any appropriate user input interface that provides an input into the control electronics  102 , such as an on-off switch, and, in some embodiments, multiple physical switches or buttons that may be used indicate a desired mode of operation by the user to the electrical weapon system  100 . User interface  103  may be connected to the control electronics  102  by a physical, wired connection in some embodiments, or, in other embodiments, may be connected to the control electronics via a wireless transmitter that sends signals to a receiver in the control electronics  102 . User interface  103  may also comprise a display to indicate to the user a current mode or state of the electrical weapon system  100 ; the display may comprise, for example, light emitting diodes (LEDs) or any other appropriate display. In some embodiments in which the electrodes  104  that are controlled by the control electronics  102  comprises more than one pair of electrodes, user interface  103  may be used to set the operating modes of the multiple pairs of electrodes to different modes, or turn of one pair while turning another pair on, as desired by the user. 
     In further embodiments, the control electronics  102  may receive input from one or more sensors  105 . The one or more sensors  105  may be used to indicate to the control electronics  102  that, for example, a target is in close proximity to or in contact with the electrodes  104 . The connection between the control electronics  102  and any of the one or more sensors  105  may be wired or wireless in various embodiments. The state or operating mode of the electrical weapon system  100  may be determined automatically by the control electronics  102  based on input from the one or more sensors  105 . The one or more sensors  105  may include, in various embodiments, one or more of a buddy safe sensor, an optical sensor, a pressure sensor, an electrical sensor, an inductive sensor, an environmental conditions sensor, and a resistance measurement sensor. Any appropriate number and type of sensors  105  may be incorporated into various embodiments of an electrical weapon system  100 . The control electronics  102  may automatically activate, deactivate, and/or adjust an operating mode of the electrical weapon system  100  based on input from the one or more sensors  105 . In embodiments of electrical weapon system  100  that include multiple control electronics  102 , one or more of the sensors  105  may be in communication with more than one set of control electronics  102 . 
     Some example sensor types that may comprise the one or more sensors  105  are discussed below. A buddy safe sensor may comprise proximity sensor that determines that a subject that is in contact with or near the electrodes  104  is a “friendly” and should not be shocked via electrodes  104 . This determination may be made by the buddy safe sensor based on, for example, a radiofrequency identification (RFID) tag that is carried by a non-opponent, such as another soldier or police personnel. Input from a buddy safe sensor may be used to control electronics  102  to deactivate the electrical weapon system  100 . The buddy safe sensor may have a relatively short distance range in some embodiments. An optical sensor may be used to indicate that a target is in close proximity to the electrodes  104 , and may comprise a passive sensor that measures light in some embodiments. When the light detected by the optical sensor is blocked, the optical sensor may determine that a target is blocking the light, and may, for example, indicate to the control electronics  102  that the electrical weapon system  100  should be activated. An optical sensor may be located in close proximity to a pair of electrodes  104 ; in embodiments of the electrical weapon system  100  comprising multiple pairs of electrodes  104 , each pair of electrodes  104  may be associated with a respective optical sensor. In some embodiments, an optical sensor for use in an electrical weapon system  100  may comprise an infrared sensor that may be used to detect the presence of a warm body. A pressure sensor may be integrated into a respective pair of the electrodes  104 . Force on a pressure sensor may indicate that the pressure sensor&#39;s respective electrodes  104  have made physical contact with a target. The pressure sensor may comprise a piezoelectric sensor that converts pressure into an electrical charge. Different pressure levels that are detected by a pressure sensor may cause the control electronics  102  to change between operating modes (i.e., shock level and/or type). For instance, a relatively low pressure may result in a cattle prod-like low voltage shock, while a relatively high pressure that indicates, for example, a kick by the user, may result in that a higher-voltage modulated shock that may confuse a target&#39;s muscle signals. In further embodiments, data from a pressure sensor may cause the electrodes  104  to be deployed such that the electrodes may penetrate the target&#39;s clothing, or may cause an electrically conductive liquid to be dispensed onto the target. An electrical sensor may measure the voltage, current, and/or capacitance across two cathodes to determine that the electrodes  104  are in electrical contact with a target. This information may be used to put the electrical weapon system  100  into a particular shock mode. The cathodes that comprise an electrical sensor may be separate from the electrodes  104 , or the same as the electrodes  104  in various embodiments. Input from an inductive sensor may cause the control electronics  102  to deactivate the electrical weapon system  100  in the presence of a metallic target, such that the electrodes  104  are not discharged across a metallic object, which may short circuit the electrical weapon system  100 . An environmental conditions sensor allows for automatic disabling of the electrical weapon system  100  by control electronics  102  when, for example, precipitation or other environmental factors might short circuit the electrodes  104 . 
     A resistance measurement sensor may be used by the control electronics  102  to select two electrodes of a plurality of electrodes in the electronic weapon system  100  as the electrode pair for delivering the shock. The resistance measurement sensor may measure respective resistances across all possible electrode pairs in the electrical weapon system  100 , and the control electronics  102  may select any two electrodes of the plurality of electrodes as the electrode pair for delivering the shock to the target based on the plurality of resistance measurements. A relatively high resistance between two electrodes may indicate that the two electrodes are not both in contact with a suitable target, while a relatively low resistance between two electrodes may indicate that two electrodes are shorted (a short between two electrodes may be caused, for example, by a conductive fluid that closes a gap between electrodes, such as is discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5   a - b ). High and low resistance thresholds may be set to prevent two inappropriate electrodes from being selected by control electronics  102  as the electrode pair for delivering the shock to the target. Resistance measurements from the resistance measurement sensor may also indicate that two electrodes with a relatively low resistance between them may be combined electrically into a single anode or cathode for use in conjunction with another anode or cathode to deliver a relatively high shock to a target. For example, a knee kick by the user against a target may cause two electrodes k 1  and k 2  to come in contact with the target, and a simultaneous elbow strike by the user against the target with two electrodes e 1  and e 2 . The electrodes k 1 , k 2 , e 1 , and e 2  may each comprise a conductive fluid delivery system such as is discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5   a - b , and the conductive fluid may short k 1  and k 2  together, and also short e 1  and e 2  together. Based on the resistance measurement sensor, the control electronics  102  may select k 1  and k 2  as a first electrode of the electrode pair for delivering the shock, and e 1  and e 2  and the second electrode of the electrode pair. 
     In one embodiment, the control electronics  102  include a capacitor that is charged using power from a battery that comprises the power supply  101 ; an open circuit including two electrodes  104  hooked up to each terminal of the capacitor; and a user interface  103  comprising an on/off switch. In some embodiments, the control electronics  102  may further include a circuit that changes the polarity of the electrodes  104  over time, resulting in a modulated shock. In further embodiments the control electronics  102  may include a switchable bank of capacitors so that as one capacitor is discharged, another charged capacitor may be connected to the electrodes  104 . 
     An embodiment of control electronics  102  of  FIG. 1  is shown in additional detail in  FIG. 2 . Control electronics  200  of  FIG. 2  may be used in conjunction with some embodiments of an electrical weapon system  100 .  FIG. 2  is discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 . Display  207  and user input  208  of  FIG. 2  comprise connections to a user interface  103  as is shown in  FIG. 1 . The control electronics  200  communicate to the user via display  207  a state (for example, activated or deactivated), and, in some embodiments, a current mode of operation (for example, a shock level and/or type) of the electrical weapon system  100 . Display  207  may comprise LEDs or any other appropriate display. The state and mode of operation of the electrical weapon system  100  may be changed by the user via user input  208 . The state and, in some embodiments, the mode of operation of the electrical weapon system  100  are stored in state memory  201 . In some embodiments in which the control electronics  200  are in communication with multiple pairs of electrodes, each pair of electrodes may have a separate respective state and mode of operation stored in state memory  201 . The control electronics  200  are also in communication with sensor input  205 , which may be connected to any appropriate number of the sensor types that were described above with respect to one or more sensors  105  of  FIG. 1 . The state and mode of operation data that is stored in state memory  201  may be changed automatically by control electronics  102  based on information from the one or more sensors  105  received via sensor input  205 . 
     Some examples of state data that may stored in state memory  201  may include an off state, indicating that the electrical weapon system  100  is turned off; a disarmed state, indicating that the electrical weapon system  100  is turned on but disarmed and will not deliver a shock across electrodes  206   a - b ; a standby state, indicating that capacitor  203  is charged, but the electrical weapon system  100  is disarmed and will not deliver a shock across electrodes  206   a - b ; a charging state, which indicates that the electrical weapon system  100  is charging the capacitor  203 ; and an armed state, indicating that the electrical weapon system  100  is fully charged and ready to deliver a shock across electrodes  206   a - b . There may also be various shock modes available, which may vary in intensity and modulation. For example, a first shock mode may be an unmodulated, relatively low voltage that is painful, but not incapacitating to a target; a second shock mode may be a relatively low voltage that is modulated so as to disrupt the target&#39;s nervous system; and a third shock mode may be a relatively high and modulated voltage, that is configured to interfere with heart electrical signal and which may be lethal to the target. The control electronics  200  may switch between the various states and shock modes based on input from user input  208  and from sensor input  205 . 
     The control electronics  200  receive power from the power supply  101  via power input  204 . The power from power input  204  may be used to and charge up one or more capacitors, such as capacitor  203 . The capacitor  203  may be discharged by shock controller  202  to provide a voltage across the electrodes  206   a - b  and pass current into a target that is in contact with the electrodes  206   a - b . The shock controller  202  may also vary the polarity, voltage, and current across the electrodes  206   a - b  over time so that the electrical shock provided to a target via the electrodes  206   a - b  is set to a desired modulation and/or waveform in order to create a desired effect. The shock controller  202  may be controlled based on state and/or mode of operation data from the state memory  201 . While only one set of electrodes  206   a - b  and corresponding capacitor  203  are shown in  FIG. 2 , in various embodiments, control electronics  200  may control any appropriate number of electrode pairs such as electrodes  206   a - b , and may include any appropriate number of capacitors or other energy storage devices. In some embodiments, multiple capacitors may be present in control electronics  200 , allowing connection of a second capacitor to an electrode pair after a first capacitor is discharged. 
     The electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  are the interface from the electrical weapon system  100  to the target. The electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  comprise one or more cathode and anode pairs. The electrodes are spaced apart by at least a relatively small distance, such as an inch, such that the electrodes  104  do not short out by contacting each other. Instead, contact is made on a target so that the target closes the circuit between the two electrodes  104 / 206   a - b . In further embodiments, a pair of electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  may be relatively widely spaced, or located on different areas of a user; for example, one electrode of a pair may be on a glove, and the other electrode of the pair may be on a boot. In some embodiments, the control electronics  102 / 200  may rapidly switch between which of the electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  is positive (cathode) and which is negative (anode) in order to provide an alternating current to the target. Electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  may be sharp in some embodiments to penetrate clothing or skin in order to make better electrical contact with the target. However, electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  that deliver relatively high voltage may be effective even if clothing is not penetrated. 
     Various embodiments of electrodes, which may comprise any of electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , are shown in  FIGS. 3   a - c ,  FIGS. 4   a - b , and  FIGS. 5   a - b .  FIG. 3   a  shows a front view of an electrode array  300   a  comprising two electrode pairs, including anodes  301   a  and  302   a , and cathodes  301   b  and  302   b .  FIG. 3   b  shows a front view of an electrode array  300   b  comprising a single electrode pair, including cathode  303   a  and anode  303   b .  FIG. 3   c  shows a side view of an electrode array  300   c  including cathode  304   a  and anode  304   b . The electrodes  301   a - b ,  302   a - b ,  303   a - b , and  304   a - b  as shown in  FIGS. 3   a - c  may be relatively sharp in some embodiments to allow penetration of a target&#39;s clothing, allowing improved electrical contact. 
     In some embodiments, the electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  may be spring loaded to deploy when a physical or electrical trigger is initiated; this is illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 4   a - b .  FIG. 4   a  shows an undeployed spring-loaded electrode array  400   a  including electrodes  401   a - b  with spring loading mechanism  402   a - b  and trigger  403 .  FIG. 4   b  shows the electrode array  400   a  after deployment of the electrodes  401   a - b  by spring loading mechanism  402   a - b . A trigger such as trigger  403  causes the electrical weapon system  100  to mechanically release the spring loaded electrodes  401   a - b  via spring loading mechanism  402   a - b . The trigger  403  may comprise an electrical trigger comprising an electro-mechanical switch in some embodiments, to release the spring loaded electrodes  401   a - b  when a command from the control electronics  102 / 200  is received. This command might be initiated by control electronics  102 / 200  upon the receipt of notification from a sensor of sensors  105  that a target is in close proximity to the electrodes  401   a - b . In other embodiments, the trigger  403  may comprise a physical trigger such as pressure sensor that directly deploys the electrodes  401   a - b  when physical pressure is experienced by the trigger  403 . 
     In further embodiments, an electrically conductive fluid, such as, but not limited to, salt water, may be used in conjunction with the electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  to reduce electrical resistance between the electrodes  104 / 206   a - b  and a target; this is illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 5   a - b .  FIG. 5   a  shows an embodiment of an electrode array  500   a  including electrodes  501   a - b  with capsules  502   a - b  that hold an electrically conductive fluid. Physical force between the electrodes  501   a - b  and a target breaks the capsules  502   a - b  and releases the electrically conductive fluid, allowing the electrically conductive fluid in the capsules  502   a - b  to penetrate the clothing and contact the skin of the target. This reduces the electrical resistance between the electrodes  501   a - b  and the target, and increases the effectiveness of the electrical shock delivered by the electrodes  501   a - b .  FIG. 5   b  shows an embodiment of an electrode array  500   b  in which the electrically conductive fluid is held in reservoirs  504   a - b  behind the electrodes  503   a - b . Contact between the target and the electrodes  503   a - b  may squeeze, or actuate a pumping mechanism in, the reservoirs  504   a - b , causing the reservoirs  504   a - b  to dispense the electrically conductive fluid via liquid exit apertures  505   a - b  onto the target at points that are in electrical contact with the electrodes  503   a - b . The liquid exit apertures  505   a - b  may be metallized so that they are part of the electrodes  503   a - b  in some embodiments, or in other embodiments, the liquid exit apertures may be in close proximity with the electrodes  503   a - b  but not integrated with the electrodes  503   a - b . Conductive fluids, such as are held in capsules  502   a - b  or reservoirs  504   a - b , allow use of relatively blunt electrodes to achieve good electrical contact with a target, avoiding physical damage to the target that may occur with sharp electrodes. Capsules  502   a - b  or reservoirs  504   a - b  are shown for illustrative purposes only; any appropriate mechanism may be used to dispense an electrically conductive fluid in conjunction with any appropriate type of electrodes in an electrical weapon system  100 . In further embodiments, a mechanism for dispensing an electrically conductive fluid, including but not limited to capsules  502   a - b  or reservoirs  504   a - b , may be used in conjunction with spring-loaded electrodes as were shown in  FIGS. 4   a - b.    
     Electrodes, which may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b , may be integrated into any appropriate locations on a user&#39;s clothing or equipment. Some example electrode location points on a user  600  that comprises a soldier are illustrated with respect to  FIGS. 6-12 ; these electrode location points may be used in conjunction with any appropriate user.  FIG. 6  is discussed with respect to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 6  illustrates an user  600  that is wearing an electrical weapon system  100  that includes a plurality of electrode location points, including glove  601 , tip of helmet  602 , elbow pad  603 , knee pad  604 , tip of boot  605 , and weapon attachment  606 .  FIG. 6  is shown for illustrative purposes only; electrodes may be places in any appropriate location on a user  600 . Each set of electrodes at locations  601 - 606  is physically and electrically connected to a set of control electronics  102  and a power supply  101 , while connections between the control electronics  102  and the user interface  103 , and the control electronics  102  and any sensors  105 , may be wired and/or wireless in various embodiments. In some embodiments, a harness that is worn by the user may connect multiple sets of electrodes located at different locations on the user with a common set of control electronics  102  and/or power supply  101 . In other embodiments, various sets of electrodes at the various location point  601 - 606  may have separate control electronics  102  and/or power supply  101 . One or more sensors  105  may also be located at any appropriate location on user  600 . In embodiments in which the electrical weapon system  100  includes multiple sets of control electronics  102 , one or more of the sensors  105  may be in communication with one or more sets of the control electronics  102 . In some embodiments, a harness for an electrical weapon system  100  may be sewn into a uniform worn by user  600  so that wires comprising the harness do not snag. In other embodiments an electrical harness comprising an electrical weapon system  100  may be built into straps that attach equipment to the user  600 . This allows removal of the electrical weapon system  100  and use with other uniforms after a given uniform wears out. In further embodiments, the harness comprising the electrical weapon system  100  may be self-contained within a monolithic unit, such as a “stun bayonet” that may be attached to a weapon, such as weapon attachment  606 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a knee pad electrode system  700 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including a set of electrodes  701  that are located on a knee pad, which may provides a stiff backing which allows for the electrodes to be thrust into an opponent with a knee kick. Electrodes  701  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  701  may comprise a single electrode pair in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, knee pad electrode system  700  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 . 
       FIG. 8  shows a helmet electrode system  800 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including a set of electrodes  801  that are integrated into a helmet or worn as an attachment to the helmet. Electrodes  801  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  801  may comprise a single electrode pair in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, helmet electrode system  800  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 . 
       FIG. 9  shows a weapon electrode system  900 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including sets of electrodes  901  and  902  that are attached to a weapon. Electrodes  901  and  902  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  901  and  902  may each comprise single electrode pairs in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, weapon electrode system  900  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102  that controls electrodes  901  and  902 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 . The attachment mechanism for electrodes  902  may be similar to the mounting mechanism on a bayonet to hold the electrodes  902  in position in front of the barrel of the weapon for a forward stabbing motion to obtain electrical contact with a target. In some embodiments, a weapon electrode system  900  may further include electrodes that are located on the side of a weapon to enable electrical contact with sweeping motions of the rifle, or on the stock of the rifle for rifle butting motions.  FIG. 9  is shown for illustrative purposes only; a weapon electrode system  900  may comprise only one of sets of electrodes  901  or  902  in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 10  shows an elbow pad electrode system  1000 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including a set of electrodes  1001  that are integrated into an elbow pad that is worn by the user. Contact may be made between the electrodes  1001  and a target with an elbow strike, which may be used in situation having limited space to complete a striking motion. Electrodes  1001  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  1001  may comprise a single electrode pair in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, elbow pad electrode system  1000  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a boot electrode system  1100 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including sets of electrodes  1101 ,  1102 , and  1103  that are placed on the hee 1 , edge, and toe of a boot, respectively. Boot electrode system  1100  allows the user to make contact by kicking the target while maintaining one or both hands on the primary weapon such as a rifle, and also allow for contact against a target when arms are engaged in grappling. Electrodes  1101 ,  1102 , and  1103  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  1101 ,  1102 , and  1103  may each comprise a single electrode pair in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, helmet electrode system  800  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 .  FIG. 11  is shown for illustrative purposes only; a boot electrode system  1100  may comprise only one of sets of electrodes  1101 ,  1102 , or  1103  in some embodiments. 
       FIG. 12  shows a glove electrode system  1200 , which may be part of an electrical weapon system  100 , including a set of electrodes  1201  that are integrated into a user&#39;s glove. Electrodes  1201  may comprise any of the electrodes shown or discussed above with respect to  FIG. 1-2 ,  3   a - c ,  4   a - b , or  5   a - b . Electrodes  1201  may comprise a single electrode pair in some embodiments, or multiple electrodes pairs in other embodiments. In various embodiments, glove electrode system  1200  may comprise a respective set of control electronics  102 , or may share a set of control electronics  102  with another set of electrodes in the electrical weapon system  100 . 
     The technical effects and benefits of exemplary embodiments include increased effectiveness of a user, such as a soldier or police personnel, during close quarters combat and increased effectiveness in dealing with noncombatants by the provision of additional nonlethal effects. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.