Patent Publication Number: US-9835419-B2

Title: Method and system for armored energy-dispersion objects

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/374,593 filed May 25, 2012 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,347,746 on May 24, 2016), titled “ARMORED ENERGY-DISPERSION OBJECTS AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING,” which claims priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/198,409 filed May 27, 2011 by Mark Andrews, titled “ARMORED GLASS-FILLED NYLON AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/018,840 filed on Jan. 3, 2008, titled “PASSIVE ARMOR APPARATUS AND METHOD,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/068,886 filed on Feb. 13, 2008, titled “MULTI-LAYERED COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/119,023 filed on Dec. 1, 2008, titled “MULTI-LAYER COMPOSITE ARMOR AND METHOD,” U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/347,937 filed on Dec. 31, 2008 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,096,223 on Jan. 17, 2012), titled “MULTI-LAYER COMPOSITE ARMOR AND METHOD,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/371,041 filed on Feb. 13, 2009 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,365,649 on Feb. 5, 2013), titled “MULTI-LAYERED COMPOSITE BELLY PLATE AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING,” each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides armored energy-dispersion objects and methods of making and using, and in particular, various embodiments described herein relate to using the objects as passive armor for, e.g., land vehicles, ships, aircraft, and buildings. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In combat vehicles, armor is generally placed on the vehicle to protect the occupants from injury or to lessen the type and severity of injuries received when an enemy hits the combat vehicle with a projectile. 
     In addition, combatants are constantly working to improve projectile apparatus and methods of deployment. In some instances, the projectiles are improved to increase their ability to pierce armor of various types. Similarly, other combatants seek to improve armor to defeat the latest in projectile technology. Therefore, combatants are constantly seeking to improve armor to protect the troops that operate combat vehicles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,318,301 to Eger issued May 4, 1943 titled “BULLET RESISTING ARMOR” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, Eger describes a plurality of metal strips embedded in overlapping relation in a rubber composition, each strip lying at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the exposed face of the armor, and including a cushion of rubber composition lying at the back of the plurality of strips, and also including a metal base plate bonded to the cushion of rubber composition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,738,297 to Pfistershammer issued Mar. 13, 1956 titled “HONEY-COMB-TYPE STRUCTURAL MATERIALS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, Pfistershammer describes structural materials having a lattice-like form and consisting at least in part of a component of great strength and ductility (basic material) such as steel, aluminum and the like, or a synthetic material of suitable nature, such as a polyamide, at least part of the basic material being formed in such a manner as to provide curved lines of stress in every direction of stress of the structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,324,768 to Eichelberger issued Jun. 13, 1967 titled “PANELS FOR PROTECTION OF ARMOR AGAINST SHAPED CHARGES” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, Eichelberger describes panels which may be applied over the armor of combat tanks to enable such vehicles to better resist, withstand and combat the heretofore serious offensive power of weapons employing shaped charge projectiles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,431,818 to King issued Mar. 11, 1969 titled “LIGHTWEIGHT PROTECTIVE ARMOR PLATE” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, King describes an improved lightweight armor plate comprising a plurality of energy-dissipating elements embedded in a non-metallic body in spaced apart relationship, wherein a minimum number of the energy-dissipating elements are adapted to be shattered when subjected to the impact of a projectile thereagainst while causing fragmentation of the projectile to effectively dissipate its energy so as to stop or divert the projectile. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,149,910 to McKee issued Sep. 22, 1992 titled “POLYPHASE ARMOR WITH SPOILER PLATE” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, McKee describes composite armor comprising a corrugated metal spoiler plate in front of and spaced from high alumina ceramic tiles backed by an aluminum anvil. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,170,690 to Smirlock et al. issued Dec. 15, 1992 titled “SURVIVABILITY ENHANCEMENT” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, Smirlock et al. describe a survivability enhancement system that includes first separable fastener structure fixed on the surface of the vehicle or system whose survivability is to be enhanced, and an array of armor tiles. The armor tiles provide a composite supplementary layer of armor that maintains attachment at effective levels even as armor tiles are subjected to large shear forces (for example, upon ballistic impact and shattering of an adjacent tile) and that has effective force dissipation characteristics. Each armor tile has opposed surfaces with second separable fastener structure complementary to the first separable fastener structure secured to one of its surfaces, one of the separable fastener structures having a multiplicity of projecting hooking elements and the cooperating fastener structure having complementary structure that is releasably interengageable with the hooking elements. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,730 to Apichatachutapan et al. issued Jul. 3, 2007 titled “VISCOELASTIC POLYURETHANE FOAM” and is incorporated herein by reference. In this patent, Apichatachutapan et al. describe a viscoelastic polyurethane foam being flame retardant and having a density of greater than two and a half pounds per cubic foot that comprises a reaction product of an isocyanate component, an isocyanate-reactive blend, and a chain extender. The isocyanate-reactive blend includes a first isocyanate-reactive component and a second isocyanate-reactive component. The first isocyanate-reactive component includes at least 60 parts by weight of ethylene oxide (EO) based on 100 parts by weight of the first isocyanate-reactive component and the second isocyanate-reactive component includes at most 30 parts by weight of EO based on 100 parts by weight of the second isocyanate-reactive component. The chain extender is reactive with the isocyanate component and has a backbone chain with from two to eight carbon atoms and is present in an amount of from 5 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the foam. A composition useful in making the viscoelastic polyurethane foam is also disclosed. 
     There is a need for improved armor for vehicles and buildings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides an armor system that includes a first armor article that includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects arranged in a predetermined configuration, wherein the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes a plurality of hardened-shell (initially hollow) objects, and wherein at least some of the plurality of hollow objects are filled with an inner filler material; and a lock mechanism configured to hold the plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an armor system, the armor system including a first armor article, the method including producing a plurality of hardened-shell hemispheres; affixing pairs of the plurality of hemispheres to one another to form a first plurality of spheres; treating each one of the plurality of hemispheres with an anti-ballistic treatment; inserting a filler material into each one of the plurality of hemispheres; and locking the first plurality of spheres into a predetermined configuration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an armored vehicle. 
         FIG. 1B  is a side view of armor system  110 . 
         FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a side view of hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . 
         FIG. 2C  is a front view of hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . 
         FIG. 2D  is a rear view of vehicle-side lock plate  220 . 2 . 
         FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a square-packed armor unit  301 . 
         FIG. 3B  is a side view of armor unit  301 . 
         FIG. 3C  is a front view of armor unit  301 . 
         FIG. 3D  is a rear view of vehicle-side lock plate  320 . 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is front view of an armor system  401 . 
         FIG. 5A  is a plan view of two layers of spherical energy-dispersion objects arranged in a square-packed configuration  500 . 
         FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5A , as viewed along line  501 . 
         FIG. 5C  is a plan view of energy-dispersion objects in an arrangement  502 . 
         FIG. 6A  is a plan view of two layers of spherical energy-dispersion objects, wherein each layer is arranged in a hexagonal-packed configuration  600 . 
         FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6A , as viewed along line  601 . 
         FIG. 6C  is a plan view of energy-dispersion objects in an arrangement  602 . 
         FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an energy-dispersion object  701 . 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic drawing of energy-dispersion object  701 . 
         FIG. 8A  is a flow diagram of a method  801  for manufacturing energy-dispersion objects. 
         FIG. 8B  is a flow diagram of a method  802  for manufacturing energy-dispersion objects. 
         FIG. 9A-1  is a perspective view of a multi-layer hexagonal-packed armor unit  901  prior to complete assembly. 
         FIG. 9A-2  is a perspective view of multi-layer armor unit  901  after complete assembly. 
         FIG. 9B  is a side view of armor unit  901 . 
         FIG. 9C  is a front view of armor unit  901 . 
         FIG. 10A-1  is a perspective view of a multi-layer square-packed armor unit  1001  prior to complete assembly. 
         FIG. 10A-2  is a perspective view of multi-layer armor unit  1001  after complete assembly. 
         FIG. 10B  is a side view of armor unit  1001 . 
         FIG. 10C  is a front view of armor unit  1001 . 
         FIG. 11A  is a side view of an armor unit  1101 . 
         FIG. 11B  is a side view of an armor unit  1102 . 
         FIG. 12A  is a side view of an armor unit  1201 . 
         FIG. 12B  is a front view of armor unit  1201 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of a multi-purpose armor unit  1301 . 
         FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an armor-enhanced stationary structure  1400 . 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-section of an armor-enhanced combat vehicle  1501 . 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic drawing of a body-armor system  1601  made according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purpose of illustration, a person of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiments of the invention are set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon the claimed invention. 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     The leading digit(s) of reference numbers appearing in the Figures generally corresponds to the Figure number in which that component is first introduced, such that the same reference number is used throughout to refer to an identical component that appears in multiple figures. Signals and connections may be referred to by the same reference number or label, and the actual meaning will be clear from its use in the context of the description. 
     As used herein, “improvised explosive devices” (IEDs) are weapons that are constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action, and that, when activated, generate both blast waves and ballistic projectiles (typically shrapnel). IEDs are often placed on roads so as to be detonated when vehicles or pedestrians pass by, and therefore are commonly associated with attacks that are directed to the bottom side of a vehicle. As used herein, a “ballistic projectile” is defined as an explosively-generated penetrating device or material (such as shrapnel) that is typically used to attack a vehicle or combatant, and that travels unpowered through the air after being explosively-generated (e.g., a bullet is a type of ballistic projectile). A ballistic projectile includes any penetrating object formed as the result of an IED. For example, the ballistic projectiles from an IED can have a shaped-charge warhead such as an explosively-formed penetrator (EFP), or in the case of most other IEDs, the projectiles from an IED are shrapnel. In the latter case, shrapnel is either produced by the casing of the IED (i.e., artillery shell), or embedded material within the IED to produce shrapnel. Perhaps the most powerful result of an IED explosion is the actual blast itself. For example, an IED used as an anti-tank mine will breach the hull of a tank with the sheer force of an explosive blast alone (substantially no fragments or shrapnel). In contrast to a ballistic projectile, a missile is typically powered (e.g., by rocket or jet exhaust) for at least a portion of its flight (e.g., a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) is a type of missile). As used herein, an “anti-ballistic material” is defined as a material that is designed to destroy/defeat ballistic projectiles and/or missiles. 
     As used herein, the “strike-face side” or “strike face” of an armor configuration is defined as the side of the armor in which a ballistic projectile/missile or blast wave first comes into contact. For example, an explosively-formed-penetrator (EFP) shot at an armor-protected vehicle from a position external to the vehicle will make first contact with the armor on the strike-face side of the armor. Similarly, the “vehicle side” of an armor configuration is herein defined as the side of the armor closest to the hull or protected volume of the vehicle being protected. 
       FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an armored vehicle system  100 . In some embodiments, the sides of vehicle  99  are covered with an armor system  110  to protect from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) that are often directed toward a vehicle from the sides (only the armor system  110  on one side of vehicle  99  is visible in the perspective view shown in  FIG. 1A , but, in some embodiments, each side of vehicle  99  is covered with an armor system  110 ). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the sides of vehicle  99  are protected by an armor system  110  that includes a plurality of individual armor units  115  (in some embodiments, armor units  115  are referred to as “anti-ballistic units” or “armor tiles”). In other embodiments, the sides of vehicle  99  are protected by an armor system  110  that has a single armor unit  115 . In some embodiments, armor system  110  is configured to conform to a substantially flat surface such as vehicle hull  98 . In other embodiments, armor system  110  is configured to conform to a substantially curved surface (see, e.g.,  FIG. 15 ). Armor system  110  protects passengers or troops within vehicle  99  from explosions which may occur near vehicle  99  and/or from ballistic projectiles (e.g., such as from explosively-formed-penetrator devices or “EFPs”) and missiles (e.g., such as rocket-propelled grenades or RPGs) that may strike or be directed at vehicle  99  from the side. In some embodiments, armor system  110  is configured to defend against ballistic projectiles (e.g., EFP&#39;s) in the 152-170 millimeter (mm) (outside diameter) range (this range is based on the size of oil pipes that are often used to create EFP&#39;s). In other embodiments, armor system  110  is configured to defend against other suitable sizes of ballistic projectiles/missiles. In some embodiments, additional armor units  110  are provided on the back, front, underbelly, and/or top of vehicle  99  to protect from ballistic projectiles/missiles aimed at those aspects of vehicle  99 . In some embodiments, vehicle  99  is a HMVVW (humvee)-type vehicle as shown. In some embodiments, vehicle  99  is a 4×4×4 M-APEX, a 6×6×6 Desert Chameleon, or an 8×8×8 Desert Chameleon combat vehicle such as provided by Advanced Defense Vehicle Systems (ADVS) (www.advs.com/ADVS/Products.html). In some embodiments, vehicle  99  is a tank, ship, aircraft (e.g., in some embodiments, a rotary-wing aircraft such as a helicopter), limousine, or like vehicle. In some embodiments, armor system  110  is applied to a structure such as a house or bunker, such as shown in  FIG. 14  below. In still other embodiments, armor system  110  is used for individual body armor (see  FIG. 16 ). 
       FIG. 1B  is a side view of armor system  110 . Three of the individual armor units  115  of armor system  110  can be seen in  FIG. 1B , and in some embodiments, each armor unit  115  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  130  held in place by two or more lock plates  120 . In some embodiments, armor units  115  are attached to vehicle hull  98  such that minimal or no space is present between each unit  115 . In some embodiments, lock plates  120  include a plurality of holes and each hole has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the outside diameter of an individual energy-dispersion object  130  such that a layer of energy-dispersion objects  130  can be held in place between two lock plates  120  (the “outside diameter” of energy-dispersion objects in the description of the present invention is sometimes referred to simply as the “diameter”). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  are also welded to lock plates  120 . In some embodiments, lock plates  120  are made from a metal or metal alloy (e.g., in some embodiments, aluminum), a composite material (e.g., in some embodiments, a polymer-based composite material such as carbon fiber or Kevlar®), or any other suitable material. In some embodiments, lock plates  120  are held together using fastener sets  125  (in some embodiments, each fastener set  125  includes a combination of nut(s), bolt(s), washer(s), and/or other suitable fasteners). In some embodiments, armor system  110  is bolted directly to the vehicle hull  98  of vehicle  99  (e.g., in some embodiments, armor system  110  is bolted to vehicle hull  98  using bolts from the fastener sets  125 ). In some embodiments, armor system  110  is placed into a pocket that forms part of vehicle hull  98  (see, e.g., vehicle pocket(s)  1580  of  FIG. 15 ). 
     As used herein, “energy-dispersion objects” are defined as resilient and hard objects that are configured to dissipate the noise, vibration, and energy associated with a ballistic projectile/missile or explosion. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  are spheres or other suitable shapes made from a metal or metal alloy (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  are made from 4330 alloy steel), the spheres undergo an anti-ballistic treatment such as case hardening (see below), and the treated spheres are filled with a glass-filled nylon. 
     As used herein an “anti-ballistic treatment” is defined as a treatment applied to a material or object (e.g., energy-dispersion objects  130 ) to improve anti-ballistic characteristics (e.g., increasing hardness while maintaining ductility). Anti-ballistic treatments include heat treatments (e.g., normalizing, annealing, quench-and-tempering, and the like) and surface treatments (e.g., case hardening, tool coatings, and the like). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  are configured to have a hardness/malleability that optimizes its energy-dispersion properties. That is, if energy-dispersion objects  130  are too hard, the strike from a ballistic projectile/missile will simply shatter energy-dispersion objects  130  and a minimal amount of energy will be dispersed outwards, and, if energy-dispersion objects  130  are too soft, energy-dispersion objects  130  will deform around an incoming ballistic projectile/missile rather than dispersing energy outward toward other energy-dispersion objects  130 . In some embodiments, anti-ballistic treatments are applied to an energy-dispersion object  130  such that the surface of the energy-dispersion object increases in hardness, while the core of the energy-dispersion object maintains its ductility (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  undergo case hardening to increase surface hardness, while maintaining core ductility). 
     As used herein, “normalizing” is defined as the process of heating steel to a temperature in the austenite region followed by an air cool. Normalizing results in a fine pearlitic structure, and a more uniform structure. Normalized steel generally has a higher strength than annealed steel. As used herein, “annealing” is defined as the process of heating steel to a temperature in the austenite region followed by a slow cool. Annealing results in a coarse pearlitic structure (i.e., the bands of pearlite are thick). As used herein, “quench-and-tempering” is defined as the process of reheating quenched (rapidly cooled) steel to a temperature below the eutectoid temperature and then cooling. Quench-and-tempering allows very small amounts of spheriodite to form, which restores ductility, but reduces hardness. 
     As used herein, “case hardening” is defined as the process of hardening the surface of a metal, often a low-carbon steel, by infusing elements into the material&#39;s surface, forming a thin layer of a harder alloy (e.g., in some embodiments, the thickness of a case-hardened layer is in a range of about 0.5 mm to 0.8 mm (20 to 30 thousandths of an inch)). Examples of case-hardening processes include carbonitriding and carburizing. In some embodiments, an FNC (i.e., ferritic nitrocarburizing, such as, for example, the DYNA-BLUE® process provided by Dynamic Surface Technologies, www.dynablue.com) treatment is applied to an already case hardened material in order to significantly raise its surface hardness. FNC includes various case-hardening processes that diffuse nitrogen and/or carbon into ferrous metals at relatively low (sub-critical) temperatures; these processing temperatures range from 525° C. to 625° C., but usually occurs at 565° C., at which temperature steels and other ferrous alloys are generally in a ferritic phase, which, in some embodiments, can be advantageous compared to other case-hardening processes that occur in the austentic phase. In some embodiments, FNC uses gaseous, salt bath, ion or plasma, and/or fluidized-bed processes. 
     As used herein, “tool coating” is defined as the process of depositing a thin layer of material on a surface in order to increase the wear-resistance of the surface. In some embodiments, a tool coating creates a layer of material having a thickness of about a few thousandths of a millimeter. Tool coating processes include BALINIT® tool coatings provided by Oerlikon-Balzer (www.oerlikon.com/balzers/en/products-services/balinit-coatings/). 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  130  that contain a glass-filled nylon and undergo an anti-ballistic treatment are sometimes referred to as “armored glass-filled nylon” or “AGFN” energy-dispersion objects in the description of the present invention. In some embodiments, AGFN energy-dispersion objects have only a small fraction of the weight of solid steel spheres having the same approximate outside diameter, but still provide substantially similar strength and/or hardness. In some embodiments, AGFN is configured to protect against EFPs (explosively-formed penetrators) and/or bullets. In some embodiments, AGFN energy-dispersion objects are configured to protect against Misznay-Schardin-effect shape-charged penetrators including RPG (rocket-propelled grenade), HEAT (high-explosive anti-tank), LAW (light anti-tank weapon), TOW (tube-launched optically-tracked, wire-guided missile), or the like due to forcing the penetrator to encounter at least two energy-dispersion objects  130  (e.g., in some embodiments, each individual armor unit  115  includes two or more layers of energy-dispersion objects  130  offset from each other by about 45 degrees such that a ballistic projectile/missile fired at armor system  110  must encounter at least two energy-dispersion objects  130  (see, e.g.,  FIG. 5B ). In some embodiments, AGFN is further configured to protect against DEW (directed-energy weapons; e.g., lasers, sonic weapons, or the like) with the proper surface treatment (e.g., a tool coat such as a BALINIT® tool coating). In some embodiments, high-strength shaped materials covered by an “armor grade” steel (e.g., steel produced to military standard MIL-DTL-12560, case-hardened 4330 steel, or the like) or other high-strength anti-ballistic material form the basic unit (e.g., energy-dispersion objects  130 ) of a network of composite anti-ballistic tiles (e.g., armor units  115 ) which are held or suspended together in matrix to form the mosaic of anti-ballistic armor system  110 . 
     In some embodiments, armor system  110  includes a combination of AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  and hollow structures that are not filled with glass-filled nylon (or any other material) in order to produce a more light-weight armor. In some embodiments, armor system  110  includes only hollow energy-dispersion objects that are filled with air, gas, or lightweight gel or foam and do not have an injection port (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion-object halves are welded together with the desired filler already inside the halves). 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 1A , energy-dispersion objects  130  within each armor unit  115  are arranged in a hexagonal-packed configuration. As used herein, a “hexagonal-packed” configuration is defined as the arrangement of a plurality of energy-dispersion objects in a first layer such that each one of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects (of those not in the outer perimeter of objects) contacts or nearly contacts six other energy-dispersion objects in the first layer. As used herein, a “square-packed” configuration is defined as the arrangement of a plurality of energy-dispersion objects in a first layer such that each one of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects (of those not in the outer perimeter of objects) contacts or nearly contacts four other energy-dispersion objects in the first layer. In some embodiments, the “square-packed” configuration is used rather than the “hexagonal-packed” configuration because it weighs less for a given area of armor having a given size of energy-dispersion objects. 
     In some embodiments, instead of using lock plates  120 , AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  are held in place in the desired configuration using a polymer. For example, in some such embodiments, AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  are bonded together using deadened non-rebounding polyurethane (e.g., viscoelastic polyurethane such as provided by U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,730, titled “VISCOELASTIC POYURETHANE FOAM”, issued Jul. 3, 2007). In some embodiments, AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  are bonded together using a high-tensile-strength polyurethane such as obtained using Andur 5 DPLM-brand prepolymer (Andur 5-DPLM is a polyester based, toluene diisocyanate terminated prepolymer. An elastomer with a hardness of 50 Shore D is obtained when this prepolymer is cured with Curene 442 [4,4′-methylene-bis(orthochloroaniline)]. Elastomers of lower hardness can be obtained by curing Andur 5-DPLM with polyols and their combination with Curene 442 and other diamines, or through the use of plasticizers), wherein 5 DPLM and Curene 442 are available through Anderson Development Corporation (www.andersondevelopment.com/surv_bin.php?x={486D54-005531-7D34C9}&amp;y=1). In some embodiments, armor system  110  (including lock plates  120 , fastener sets  125 , and energy-dispersion objects  130 ) are encased within a polymer such as the polyurethanes described above. In some embodiments, instead of using lock plates  120 , AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  are welded to each other to maintain the desired configuration. In some embodiments, instead of using lock plates  120 , AGFN energy-dispersion objects  130  are held together using any other suitable method including metallically, chemically, electromagnetically, or the like. 
     In some embodiments, armor system  110  is modular, interchangeable, and replaceable. That is, in some embodiments, a portion of armor system  110  (including one or more armor units  115  or a portion of a single armor unit  115 ) can be destroyed and replaced without having to replace the entire armor system  110 . In some embodiments, this modular armor system  110  can be adjusted based on the applicable threat level. For example, in some embodiments, the mass and/or tile size of armor units  115  is adjusted based on the corresponding size and overall ballistic energy of potential threat weapons. In some such embodiments, modification to armor units  115  and thus armor system  110  is performed at the troop/user level with only a crescent wrench, or in the case of an “internal compartment” configuration (see definition below), with no tools at all. 
     In some embodiments, armor system  110  is designed such that ballistic pressure and force from a ballistic projectile or missile is brought to bear on energy-dispersion objects  130  such that energy-dispersion objects  130  are preferably destroyed rather than the overall structure of armor system  110 . In some embodiments, armor system  110  is mutually supporting such that individual tiles (i.e., armor units  115 ) are offset so as to cover “openings” in system  110  between individual tiles  115  and between layers of tiles (see, e.g.,  FIG. 4 ). 
     Armor system  110  can be attached to the vehicles/buildings it is configured to protect in multiple ways. In some embodiments, for example, armor system  110  is used as an appliqué (i.e., armor system  110  is attached to the exterior surface of the vehicle, such as shown in  FIG. 1A ). In other embodiments, armor system  110  is arranged in an “internal compartment” configuration (see, e.g.,  FIG. 15 ). As used herein, an “internal compartment” configuration is defined as the arranging of the individual armor units  115  in a compartment (e.g., a steel compartment or pocket) forming the exterior of the vehicle  99  and/or the vehicle hull  98 . In an internal compartment configuration, fastener sets  125  are not necessarily needed (and thus tools are not needed to disassemble/modify an internal compartment configuration) because the dimensions of the internal compartment can be made small enough to hold energy-dispersion objects  130  in place between lock-plates  120  without tightening from fastener sets  125 . In some internal compartment embodiments, the dimensions of the internal compartment are such that neither fastener sets  125  nor lock-plates  120  are required. 
       FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . In some embodiments, armor unit  201  is one of a plurality of individual armor units  201  that are affixed to an area of a vehicle to protect that area of the vehicle from ballistic projectiles and/or missiles. In some embodiments, armor unit  201  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  230  (in some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2A , armor unit  201  includes five individual energy-dispersion objects  230  arranged in a single hexagonal-packed layer, while in other embodiments, armor unit  201  includes any other suitable number of energy dispersion objects  230  arranged in one or more hexagonal-packed layers). In some embodiments, each individual energy-dispersion object  230  has a diameter that is about 102 mm (4 inches). In other embodiments, each individual energy-dispersion object  230  has any other suitable diameter. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are hardened-shell hollow spheres made from 4330-type steel that undergo anti-ballistic treatments (e.g., heat treatments and surface treatments) and are filled with a glass-filled nylon such as 30% glass fiber Nylon-6 (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are filled with LGF30-PA6 1001 NAT glass-filled nylon from a supplier such as PlastiComp LLC, 110 Galewski Drive, Winona Minn. 55987). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are made from any other suitable material including 1010 steel, 1020 steel, 1030 steel, 4130 steel, and 8620 steel. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are carbonitrided and FNC-treated. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are carbonitrided and tool-coated (e.g., a BALINIT® tool coating such as provided by Oerlikon-Balzer). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  undergo any other suitable combination of anti-ballistic treatments. 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  230  are held in place by two lock plates  220  (i.e., a strike-face lock plate  220 . 1  and a vehicle-side lock plate  220 . 2 ). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  includes a plurality of holes (e.g., in some embodiments, each lock plate  220  includes five holes, one for each energy-dispersion object  230 ), wherein each hole has a diameter that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the energy-dispersion objects  230  such that energy-dispersion objects  230  can be held in place in the hexagonal-packed configuration between the two lock plates  220 . In some embodiments, lock plates  220  are made from a material that includes a metal (e.g., aluminum, low-carbon 1018 steel, armor-grade steels (e.g., steels produced to military standards MIL-DTL-12560 or MIL-DTL 46177), or the like). In some embodiments, lock plates  220  are made from a material that includes a composite material (e.g., carbon fiber, glass-filled nylon, or the like). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a thickness of about 3.2 mm (⅛ inch). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has any other suitable thickness. In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a length-width dimension of about 406 mm by 406 mm (16 inches by 16 inches). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a length-width dimension of about 457 mm by 457 mm (18 inches by 18 inches). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a length-width dimension that is smaller than about 610 mm by 1, 219 mm (2 feet by 4 feet) such that an individual person could replace/install armor unit  201  alone. In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a length-width dimension that is larger than about 610 mm by 1,219 mm (2 feet by four feet). In some embodiments, each lock plate  220  has a length-width dimension that is smaller than about 406 mm by 406 mm (16 inches by 16 inches). In some embodiments, lock plates  220  are held together using a plurality of fastener sets  225 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2A , armor unit  201  includes four fastener sets  225 , wherein one fastener set  225  is located at each corner of armor unit  201 . In other embodiments, armor unit  201  includes any other suitable number of fastener sets  225  and the fastener sets  225  are arranged in any other suitable configuration. In some embodiments, each fastener set  225  includes a combination of nut(s), bolt(s), washer(s), and/or other suitable fasteners. For example, in some embodiments, each fastener set  225  includes a threaded bolt or rod that passes through both lock plates  220  and at least one nut/washer combination that is placed over the threaded bolt and tightened to keep lock plates  220  together. 
       FIG. 2B  is a side view of hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . 
       FIG. 2C  is a front view of hexagonal-packed armor unit  201 . Each energy-dispersion object  230  is illustrated by a circular solid line and a circular dotted line that surrounds the solid line. The solid line represents the portion of the energy-dispersion object  230  that is visible when looking at strike-face lock plate  220 . 1 , while the dotted line represents the portion of the energy-dispersion object  230  that is behind strike-face lock plate  220 . 1  and thus not visible in  FIG. 2C . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2C , armor unit  201  includes four fastener sets  225  and each set is located at one corner of strike-face lock plate  220 . 1  (vehicle-side lock plate  220 . 2  also includes four fastener sets  225 , but is not visible in  FIG. 2C ). In other embodiments, armor unit  201  includes any other suitable number of fastener sets  225 , and the fastener sets  225  are arranged in any other suitable configuration (e.g., in some embodiments, armor unit  201  includes eight fastener sets  225  that are evenly spaced around the perimeter of armor unit  201 ). In some embodiments, each fastener set  225  includes a bolt, a washer, and a nut. 
       FIG. 2D  is a rear view of vehicle-side lock plate  220 . 2 . In some embodiments, lock plate  220 . 2  includes a plurality of fastener holes  226  configured to receive the fastener sets  225  of armor unit  201 . In some embodiments, lock plate  220 . 2  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion-object holes  221  that are configured to hold energy-dispersion objects  230  in the hexagonal-packed configuration of armor unit  201 . In some embodiments, the vehicle side of lock plate  220 . 2  (i.e., the side visible in  FIG. 2D ) is reinforced with solid steel bars  222  that are attached to lock plate  220 . 2  in the spaces between holes  221 . In some embodiments, the strike-face side of lock-plate  220 . 2  is also reinforced with solid steel bars  222 . In some embodiments, each side of lock plate  220 . 1  and lock plate  220 . 2  is reinforced with solid steel bars  222 . In some embodiments, the strike-face side of lock plate  220 . 1  is reinforced with solid steel bars  222 . In some embodiments, bars  222  are welded to lock plate  220 . 2 . In other embodiments, bars  222  are attached to lock plate  220 . 2  in any other suitable manner. In some embodiments, bars  222  are made from 1018 steel. In some embodiments, bars  222  are made from any other suitable metal or metal alloy. In some such embodiments, bars  222  are case-hardened. 
       FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a square-packed armor unit  301 . In some embodiments, armor unit  301  is substantially similar to armor unit  201  of  FIG. 2A  except that the hexagonal-packed configuration of energy-dispersion objects  230  in  FIG. 2A  is replaced with a square-packed configuration of energy-dispersion objects  330 . In some embodiments, each individual energy-dispersion object  330  has a diameter that is about 102 mm (4 inches). In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 3A , armor unit  3  includes six individual energy-dispersion objects  330  arranged in a single square-packed layer, while in other embodiments, armor unit  301  includes any other suitable number of energy dispersion objects  330  arranged in one or more square-packed layers. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  330  are held in place by two lock plates  320  (i.e., a strike-face lock plate  320 . 1  and a vehicle-side lock plate  320 . 2 ), and in some embodiments, lock plates  320  are held together using a plurality of fastener sets  325 . In other embodiments, the hexagonally packed, square-packed, or other configuration matrices  301  of energy-dispersion objects are simply contained in a compartment (such as a steel box), or are welded to one another, or are put in an array of tubes that are stacked such that the longitudinal axis of each tube is pointing outward (for example, in some embodiments, the axis of the tube is at a normal-vector angle relative to the surface of the vehicle), and which guide the incoming projectile or other weapon, along a line that dissipates energy (e.g., in some embodiments, that spreads the energy over a wide area) before the weapon reaches the vehicle hull. 
       FIG. 3B  is a side view of armor unit  301 . 
       FIG. 3C  is a front view of armor unit  301 . 
       FIG. 3D  is a rear view of vehicle-side lock plate  320 . 2 . In some embodiments, lock plate  320 . 2  includes a plurality of fastener holes  326  configured to receive the fastener sets  325  of armor unit  301 . In some embodiments, lock plate  320 . 2  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion-object holes  321  that are configured to hold energy-dispersion objects  330  in the square-packed configuration of armor unit  301 . In some embodiments, the vehicle side of lock plate  320 . 2  (i.e., the side visible in  FIG. 3D ) is reinforced with solid steel bars  322  that are attached to lock plate  320 . 2  in the spaces between holes  321  (in some embodiments, bars  322  are welded to lock-plate  320 . 2 ). In other embodiments, any other combination of sides of lock plate  320 . 2  and/or  320 . 1  is reinforced with solid steel bars  322 . 
       FIG. 4  is front view of an armor system  401 . In some embodiments, system  401  includes a plurality of armor units  415 , each armor unit  415  including a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  430  held in place by two or more lock-plates  420  (since  FIG. 4  is a front view, only the strike-face lock-plate  420  of each unit  415  is visible in  FIG. 4 ). In some embodiments, the plurality of energy-dispersion objects  430  within each armor unit  415  is configured in a hexagonal-packed configuration and each energy-dispersion object  430  within an armor unit  415  is placed in contact with any adjacent energy-dispersion object  430  in that armor unit  415  (i.e., the energy-dispersion objects  430  within an armor unit  415  touch each other). In some such embodiments, armor units  415  are arranged adjacent to each other such that at least some energy-dispersion objects  430  from separate but adjacent units  415  are also in contact with each other. In still further such embodiments, individual layers of armor units  415  are offset from each other so as to cover “openings” in system  401  between individual layers of armor units  415 . In some embodiments, armor units  415  in separate layers contact each other (i.e., energy-dispersion objects  430  within a first layer touch energy-dispersion objects  430  within a second adjacent layer). In other embodiments, armor units  415  in separate layers do not touch each other such that the armor units  415  in the strike-face layer absorb at least some energy from an incoming ballistic projectile/missile before contacting the armor units  415  in the adjacent layer. 
     Energy-Dispersion Objects 
     Energy-dispersion objects of the present invention (e.g., energy-dispersion objects  430  of  FIG. 4 ) are configured to help disintegrate ballistic projectiles (e.g., explosion-formed shrapnel or EFPs) or missiles (e.g., RPGs) and spread (mechanically couple the force to a larger area) and/or dissipate (convert some of the energy to heat in the armor) the shrapnel/projectile&#39;s kinetic energy before it can reach the hull of the vehicle being protected by an armor system that includes the energy-dispersion objects. The primary advantage provided by energy-dispersion objects is that the energy associated with an incoming ballistic projectile/missile is at least partially dispersed toward the perimeter of the layer of energy-dispersion objects, rather than directing all of the energy straight through the layers in a direction perpendicular to the layers and into the vehicle. The dispersing of energy away from the point of impact of the ballistic projectile/missile lowers the pressure applied to the armor at any single point in the armor. In other words, enlarging the area of the energy impact lowers the pressure because the force-per-square-cm or other area is larger than the initial impact area of the ballistic projectile/missile. By spreading the force over a greater area, less damage is done to other layers of the armor and to the vehicle hull itself.  FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A-6C  illustrate this energy-dispersion concept for embodiments of the present invention that include multiple layers of energy-dispersion objects (for clarity,  FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A-6C  do not illustrate individual armor unit boundaries (i.e., the boundaries between adjacent lock plates), but in some embodiments, multiple armor units are placed substantially adjacent to each other in order to attain the pattern that is illustrated while, in other embodiments, all of the energy-dispersion objects set forth in a given one of  FIGS. 5A-5C and 6A-6C  are contained within a single armor unit). 
       FIG. 5A  is a plan view of two layers of spherical energy-dispersion objects arranged in a square-packed configuration  500 . As explained above, the objects in a square-packed layer touch or nearly touch four other objects in the same layer. In addition to the square-packed configuration within a given layer, in some embodiments, the two layers are also in a square-packed configuration with respect to each other as illustrated in  FIG. 5A . That is, each sphere in top layer  510  contacts or nearly contacts four other spheres in bottom layer  520 . 
     For each spherical energy-dispersion object in top layer  510  (e.g., sphere  515 ) that is struck by an incoming ballistic projectile/missile, four spherical energy-dispersion objects (e.g., spheres  521  and  522 ) in bottom layer  520  are struck by the spherical energy-dispersion object, and these energy-dispersion objects in bottom layer  520  are struck at glancing angles, which transfers much of the original energy from the ballistic projectile/missile to energy-dispersion objects traveling in directions having a substantial velocity component perpendicular to the direction of the ballistic projectile/missile and parallel to layers  510  and  520 . This sideways travel of several energy-dispersion objects both spreads the impact over a larger area and/or redirects the momentum/energy of the ballistic projectile/missile in directions other than directly inward to the volume being protected (e.g., the crew compartment and/or engine compartment). The energy transferred to the spherical energy-dispersion objects also reduces the speed of the ballistic projectile/missile, allowing the other layers and different materials to stop the slower-moving debris more readily than could be done to the full-speed ballistic projectile/missile. 
     In contrast to the present embodiment of multiple layers of energy-dispersion objects, if a high-speed incoming copper ballistic projectile from an EFP strikes a solid steel plate while traveling at, e.g., 1000 to 3000 meters per second, it may pass through even a fairly thick plate (e.g., 152-mm to 254-mm (or more) thick) since the steel to the side of the entry point is not readily moved to the sides of the direction of travel. Unlike a solid steel armor plate that does not readily move sideways from the incoming ballistic projectile, the energy-dispersion objects relatively readily move to the side when struck at high velocity (even when embedded in fiber-reinforced polymer), thus transferring much of the energy from a direction of the ballistic projectile (e.g., perpendicular to layers  510  and  520 ) into directions having a substantial component parallel to layers  510  and  520 . 
       FIG. 5B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5A , as viewed along line  501 .  FIG. 5B  illustrates how the energy absorbed by sphere  515  causes the spheres below it (spheres  522  and  521 ) to move away at an angle, rather than going straight down to the next layer. For example, when a ballistic projectile/missile hits the center of sphere  515  at an angle perpendicular to top layer  510 , spheres  521  and  522  move down and away from sphere  515  at an approximately forty-five degree angle (the arrow representing sphere  521 &#39;s pathway actually comes out of the page toward the viewer at an approximately forty-five degree angle). 
       FIG. 5C  is a plan view of energy-dispersion objects in an arrangement  502 . As illustrated by arrangement  502 , each individual layer of energy-dispersion objects also provides energy dissipation. For example, as spheres  521  and  522  move away from sphere  515 , they transfer some of their energy to the spheres in contact (or nearly in contact) with them in bottom layer  520  (e.g., some of the energy absorbed by spheres  521  and  522  is transferred to spheres  523  in an outward direction parallel to the plane of layer  520  as illustrated in  FIG. 5C ). The energy transfer from spheres  521  and  522  to spheres  523  causes spheres  523  to move in an outward direction parallel to the plane of layer  520  regardless of the angle in which spheres  521  and  522  are struck by sphere  515  because spheres  521  and  522  are in the same plane as spheres  523 . In addition, however, the square-packed configuration of  FIG. 5C  causes the energy-transfer to spheres  523  and beyond to occur in the cross-like pattern illustrated by  FIG. 5C  (i.e., spheres  524  receive a minimal amount of energy unless sphere  515  is struck with such force that spheres  522  continue past spheres  523  and into spheres  524 ). 
     Returning to  FIG. 5A , sphere  515  also transfers some of its energy to the spheres in contact (or nearly in contact) with it in top layer  510  if the ballistic projectile/missile strikes sphere  515  in an off-center location of sphere  515  and/or at some angle other than directly perpendicular, Therefore, in some scenarios, some of the energy absorbed by sphere  515  is transferred to spheres  516  (and to a minimal extent, spheres  518  and  517 ). 
       FIG. 6A  is a plan view of two layers of spherical energy-dispersion objects, wherein each layer is arranged in a hexagonal-packed configuration  600 . As explained above, the objects in a hexagonal-packed layer touch (or nearly touch) six other objects in the same layer. In addition to the hexagonal-packed configuration within a given layer, the two layers are also in a hexagonal-packed configuration with respect to each other. That is, each sphere in top layer  610  contacts (or nearly contacts) three other spheres in bottom layer  620 . As can be seen by comparing  FIG. 5B  to  FIG. 6B , a hexagonal-packed layer of energy-dispersion objects is more dense and therefore heavier than a square-packed layer, and a hexagonal-packed layer provides less angle of deflection (compared to a vertical line) from one layer to an adjacent layer (e.g., approximately thirty degrees for a hexagonal-packed layer and approximately forty-five degrees for a square-packed layer). A given layer of hexagonal-packed energy-dispersion objects, however, disperses energy from a ballistic projectile/missile among significantly more energy-dispersion objects than the number of energy-dispersion objects affected in a given layer of square-packed energy-dispersion objects (see  FIG. 5C  versus  FIG. 6C ). 
       FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 6A , as viewed along line  601 .  FIG. 6B  illustrates how the energy absorbed by sphere  615  causes the spheres below it (spheres  621 ) to move away at an angle, rather than going straight down to the next layer. For example, when a ballistic projectile/missile hits the center of sphere  615  at an angle perpendicular to top layer  610 , spheres  621  move down and away from sphere  615  at an approximately thirty-degree angle (compared to a vertical line running through the middle of sphere  615 ). 
       FIG. 6C  is a plan view of energy-dispersion objects in an arrangement  602 . As illustrated by arrangement  602 , each individual layer of energy-dispersion objects also provides energy dissipation. For example, as spheres  621  move away from sphere  615 , they transfer some of their energy to the spheres in contact (or nearly in contact) with them in bottom layer  620  (e.g., some of the energy absorbed by spheres  621  is transferred to spheres  622  and  623  in an outward direction parallel to the plane of layer  620  as illustrated in  FIG. 6C ). The energy transfer from spheres  621  to spheres  622  and  623  causes spheres  622  and  623  to move in an outward direction parallel to the plane of layer  620  regardless of the angle in which spheres  621  are struck by sphere  615  because spheres  621  are in the same plane as spheres  622  and  623 . In addition, due to the hexagonal-packed configuration of  FIG. 6C  (which is more closely packed than the square-packed configuration of  FIG. 5C ), virtually all of the spheres in layer  620  absorb some of the energy from spheres  621  (as illustrated in  FIG. 6C , the only spheres that receive minimal energy transfer are spheres  625 ). Therefore, although a hexagonal-packed configuration adds more weight to a multi-layer composite armor than a square-packed configuration, a hexagonal configuration also provides more energy-dispersion than the square configuration. 
     Returning to  FIG. 6A , sphere  615  also transfers some of its energy to the spheres in contact (or nearly in contact) with it in top layer  610  if the ballistic projectile/missile strikes sphere  615  in an off-center location of sphere  615  and/or at some angle other than directly perpendicular. Therefore, in some scenarios, some of the energy absorbed by sphere  615  is transferred to spheres  616  and beyond. 
       FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of an energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is one of a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  701  configured for use in the armor units/systems described for the present invention (e.g., armor unit  201  of  FIG. 2A ). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has a shape configured to deflect ballistic energy. In some such embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is a hardened-shell hollow sphere or other suitable hardened-shell hollow shape (e.g., an ovoid, a cylinder, a cube, or the like). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made from a material that includes a metal or metal alloy. For example, in some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made from a material that includes 4330-type steel. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made from a material that includes 1010-type steel, 1018-type steel, 1020-type steel, 1025-type steel, 1030-type steel, 4130-type steel, armor-grade steels (e.g., steels produced to military standards MIL-DTL-12560), or the like. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made from a composite material such as carbon fiber or the like. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made a material that includes a ceramic. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is a ceramic-coated steel sphere. 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  includes an injection hole  706  through which a glass-filled nylon or other suitable material is injected into energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is injected with a glass-filled nylon such as 30% glass fiber nylon-6 (e.g., LGF30-PA6 1001 NAT glass-filled nylon from a supplier such as PlastiComp LLC, 110 Galewski Drive, Winona Minn. 55987). In some embodiments, 30% glass-filled nylon has physical properties approaching the strength of aluminum and has a weight of about one-third the weight of aluminum. In some embodiments, the glass fiber in the glass-filled nylon material includes an E-glass, an S-glass, or any other suitable glass type. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is injected with a basalt-fiber reinforced nylon. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is injected with an unhardened polymeric or other composite of materials. For example, in some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is injected with deadened non-rebounding polyurethane (e.g., viscoelastic polyurethane such as provided by U.S. Pat. No. 7,238,730, titled “VISCOELASTIC POYURETHANE FOAM”, issued Jul. 3, 2007). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is injected with a high-tensile-strength polyurethane such as obtained using Andur 5 DPLM-brand prepolymer provided by Anderson Development Corporation (www.andersondevelopment.com/surv_bin.php?x={486D54-005531-7D34C9}&amp;y=1). As used herein, armored polyurethane (AP) is defined as energy-dispersion objects  701  that are filled with a polyurethane such as a polyester-based polyurethane available from, e.g., Anderson Development (www.andersondevelopment.com). 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  undergoes one or more anti-ballistic treatments after being filled with glass-filled nylon to further harden and/or strengthen energy-dispersion object  701 . For example, in some embodiments, a heat treatment is applied to energy-dispersion object  701  to normalize any welds present on energy-dispersion object  701  (as described below, in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects are produced by welding together to hollow-sphere halves of the desired material). In some embodiments, a case-hardening process is applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . Example case-hardening processes include carbonitriding, FNC (i.e., ferritic nitrocarburizing, such as the DYNA-BLUE® process provided by Dynamic Surface Technologies, www.dynablue.com), and carburizing. In some embodiments, a tool-coat process is applied to energy-dispersion object  701  (e.g., a BALINIT® tool coating provided by Oerlikon-Balzer). In some embodiments, any other suitable anti-ballistic treatment or combination of anti-ballistic treatments is applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . 
     In some embodiments, treating energy-dispersion object  701  with both a FNC (which hardens the surface of energy-dispersion object  701 ) and a tool coat like BALINIT® (which makes the surface of energy-dispersion object  701  wear resistant and slippery) is especially suitable for smaller-diameter energy-dispersion objects  701  designed to protect against extremely high-velocity smaller-diameter ballistic projectiles/missiles. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is carbonitrided and FNC-treated (in some such embodiments, energy-dispersion object is made from 4330 steel). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is carbonitrided and tool-coated. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object is treated with a diamond-coated composite such as provided by Surface Technology, Inc. (www.surfacetechnology.com/cdc.html). In some embodiments, a quench-and-temper process is applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, a quench-and-temper process and a carburizing process are applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, a quench-and-temper process and a carbonitriding process are applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, a quench-and-temper process and a FNC-process (e.g., DYNA-BLUE®) are applied to energy-dispersion object  701 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  undergoes any other suitable anti-ballistic treatment or combination of anti-ballistic treatments. 
     In some embodiments, the anti-ballistic treatments are applied to energy-dispersion object  701  in order to obtain a desired hardness (e.g., as measured by Rockwell “C” Hardness, Vickers microhardness, or the like). As used herein, Rockwell “C” Hardness is defined as a designation of hardness, usually of steel or Corrosion Resistant Alloys, measured by pressing a specially shaped indenter against a clean prepared surface with a specific force. The machine making the indention also measures the depth of the indention and provides a numerical value for that depth. As used herein, “Vickers microhardness” is defined as a method of determining the hardness of steel whereby a diamond pyramid is pressed into the polished surface of the specimen and the diagonals of the impression are measured with a microscope fitted with a micrometer eye piece. The rate of application and duration are automatically controlled and the load can be varied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  is made from 4330 steel and has a Rockwell “C” Hardness (HRC) value of 30 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has an HRC value of 35 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has an HRC value of 40 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has any other suitable HRC value. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has a Vickers microhardness (Vickers) value in a range of between about 42 and 59 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has a Vickers value in a range of between about 43 and 51 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has a Vickers value in a range of between about 39 and 58 after the desired anti-ballistic treatment is applied. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has any other suitable Vickers value/range of values. 
       FIG. 7B  is a schematic drawing of energy-dispersion object  701 . Measurement A is the outer diameter (O.D.) of energy-dispersion object  701 . Measurement B is the inner diameter (I.D.) of energy-dispersion object  701 . Measurement C is the diameter of injection hole  706 . In some embodiments, measurement C is about 6.35 mm (¼-inch). In some embodiments, measurements A and B of energy-dispersion object  701  are tailored to corresponding weapon threats. In some embodiments, measurement A is about 101.6 mm (4 inches) and measurement C is about 95.25 mm (3¾ inches) such that energy-dispersion object  701  has a thickness of about 3.175 mm (⅛ inch). 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has a thickness of about 0.80 mm ( 1/32 inch), of about 1.60 mm ( 1/16 inch), of about 6.35 mm (¼ inch), or of greater than about 6.35 mm (¼ inch). 
     In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has an O.D. of about 89 mm (3½ inches), of about 76 mm (3 inches), of about 64 mm (2½ inches), of about 51 mm (2 inches), of about 38 mm (1½ inches), of about 25 mm (1 inch), of about 13 mm (½ inch), or of less than about 13 mm such as about 12 mm, about 11 mm, about 10 mm, about 9 mm, about 8 mm, about 7 mm, about 6 mm, about 5 mm, or less than about 5 mm. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  701  with small O.D.&#39;s (e.g., less than about 13 mm (½ inch) are configured to protect against RPG&#39;s, long-rod penetrators, Sabot-dart anti-tank rounds, or the like. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion object  701  has an O.D. of greater than about 102 mm (4 inches) such as about 127 mm (5 inches), of about 254 mm (10 inches), of about 635 mm (25 inches), or of greater than about 635 mm. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  701  used in multiple different layers have the same size (e.g., in some embodiments, all of the energy-dispersion objects  701  in each layer of an armor system have the same O.D.). In other embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  701  have a first size in a first layer and a second size in a second layer (see, e.g.,  FIG. 9B ). 
       FIG. 8A  is a flow diagram of a method  801  for manufacturing energy-dispersion objects. The energy-dispersion objects created by method  801  can be used in any of the embodiments described by the present invention. In some embodiments, method  801  starts by producing hollow hemispheres. In some embodiments, hollow hemispheres are created by casting steel hollow hemispheres (block  805 ). In other embodiments, hollow hemispheres are created by stamping the hollow hemispheres out of sheet steel (block  806 ). 
     In some embodiments, the hollow hemispheres produced at block  805  and/or block  806  are then joined together to make spheres at block  810 . In some embodiments, the hemispheres are welded together using a spin-weld process (where the hemispheres are spun together at a high RPM) such as provided by Spinweld, Inc. (www.spinweld.com/friction-welding-process.php). In some embodiments, the hemispheres are welded together using a robotic-laser-weld process such as provided by RobotWorx (www.welding-robots.com/applications.php?app=laser+welding). In other embodiments, the hemispheres are joined together to form spheres using any other suitable method. In some embodiments, the completed spheres serve as the mold or form for their own injection process (see block  840 ). 
     In some embodiments, after forming the spheres, an injection hole is formed in each sphere at block  820  (in some such embodiments, the injection hole is drilled out of each sphere) such that each sphere can be injected with a desired filler material (in some embodiments, completed energy-dispersion objects are placed in the desired armor system such that the injection hole faces away from the strike-face side of the armor system). 
     In some embodiments, the spheres are treated with an anti-ballistic treatment at block  830  to increase core material and surface strength. For example, in some embodiments, spheres are heat treated and surface treated (e.g., in some embodiments, spheres are quench-and-tempered, carbonitrided, and treated with a BALINIT® tool coating provided by Oerlikon-Balzer). 
     In some embodiments, spheres are injected with the desired filler material (e.g., glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent) at block  840  to form the completed energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, a bubbling agent is added during the injection process to ensure consistent pressure and uniformity of contact with the “armored” wall of the outer structure of the sphere. This serves to greatly support the outer structure of the sphere and also helps contain fragments that are strong enough to penetrate the outer structure of the sphere when the sphere is struck by a ballistic projectile or missile. In some embodiments, the bubbling agent is Hydrocerol XH-901 such as provided by Clariant Masterbatches (www.masterbatches.com/bu/mb/internet.nsf/023cfbb98594ad5bc12564e400555162/b6a3181666a1 d88dc12579aa001e6363?OpenDocument). In some embodiments, tooling (e.g., a clamp-like structure) is used to hold the sphere in place during the injection process. 
     In some embodiments, blocks  805 - 820  are eliminated from method  801  and a sub-method  802  is performed instead. In some such embodiments, stock hardened-shell hollow spheres made of the desired metal or metal alloy (e.g., 1018 steel) are purchased off the shelf from suppliers such as Sharpe Products (www.sharpeproducts.com/architectural_pipe_tube_handrail_fittings.html) at block  807 . In some embodiments, the stock hollow spheres include a pre-formed injection hole. In some embodiments, the stock hollow spheres are treated at block  830  and injected at block  840  to form the completed energy-dispersion objects. 
       FIG. 8B  is a flow diagram of a method  802  for manufacturing energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, instead of injecting spheres with the desired filler material to form energy-dispersion objects (e.g., block  840  of  FIG. 8A ), the hemispheres produced at block  805  and/or block  806  are joined together around a filler material in order to form completed energy-dispersion objects that do not have an injection hole. In some such embodiments, the hemispheres created at block  805  and/or block  806  are treated with an anti-ballistic treatment at block  831 , a spherical piece of the desired filler material (e.g., glass-filled nylon) is formed at block  841 , and the hemispheres are joined together around the filler-material piece at block  851  to make the completed energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, block  851  includes joining the hollow hemispheres together around the spherical filler-material piece (e.g., welding the hemispheres together, melting the hemispheres onto the filler-material piece, or the like) such that the filler material has uniform contact with the inner walls of the formed energy-dispersion object. In some embodiments, desired filler material is placed into the hollow hemispheres and then the filled hemispheres are joined together to form the completed energy-dispersion objects. 
     Additional Armor Embodiments 
       FIG. 9A-1  is a perspective view of a multi-layer hexagonal-packed armor unit  901  prior to complete assembly. In some embodiments, armor unit  901  is one of a plurality of individual armor units  901  that are affixed to an area of a vehicle to protect that area of the vehicle from ballistic projectiles and/or missiles. In some embodiments, armor unit  901  includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects  930  held in place in the hexagonal-packed configuration by lock plates  920  (a first lock plate  920 . 1  and a second lock plate  920 . 2 ) and fastener sets  925 . In some embodiments, armor unit  901  is substantially similar to armor unit  201  of  FIG. 2A  except that armor unit  901  includes an additional layer of energy-dispersion objects  931  that have a smaller diameter than the energy-dispersion objects  930 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  931  are used to fill in the gaps between individual energy-dispersion objects  930 . In some embodiments, each individual energy-dispersion object  930  has a diameter that is about 102 mm (4 inches) and each individual energy-dispersion object  931  has a diameter that is about 51 mm (2 inches). In some embodiments, the layer of energy-dispersion objects  931  are contained within lock plate  921 , which includes fastener holes  926  configured to receive the fastener sets  925 . In some embodiments, lock plates  920  and  921  and energy-dispersion objects  930  and  931  are assembled into complete armor unit  901  by sliding holes  926  of lock plate  921  over fastener sets  925  and tightening (e.g., tightening a bolt/washer/nut combination that forms each fastener set  925 ). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  931  and lock plate  921  are on the strike-face side of armor unit  901 . 
       FIG. 9A-2  is a perspective view of multi-layer armor unit  901  after complete assembly. In some embodiments, instead of using a single lock plate  921  to hold energy-dispersion objects  931  in place, two lock plates are used. In some embodiments, armor unit  901  includes more than two layers of energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  931  are the same size (e.g., same diameter) as energy-dispersion objects  930 . 
       FIG. 9B  is a side view of armor unit  901 . 
       FIG. 9C  is a front view of armor unit  901 . 
       FIG. 10A-1  is a perspective view of a multi-layer square-packed armor unit  1001  prior to complete assembly. In some embodiments, armor unit  1001  is one of a plurality of individual armor units  1001  that are affixed to an area of a vehicle to protect that area of the vehicle from ballistic projectiles and/or missiles. In some embodiments, armor unit  1001  includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1030  held in place in the square-packed configuration by lock plates  1020  (a first lock plate  1020 . 1  and a second lock plate  1020 . 2 ) and fastener sets  1025 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1001  is substantially similar to armor unit  301  of  FIG. 3A  except that armor unit  1001  includes an additional layer of energy-dispersion objects  1031  that are used to fill in the gaps between individual energy-dispersion objects  1030 . In some embodiments, each individual energy-dispersion object  1030  and  1031  has a diameter that is about 102 mm (4 inches). In some embodiments, the layer of energy-dispersion objects  1031  are contained within two lock plates  1021  (a first lock plate  1021 . 1  and a second lock plate  1021 . 2 ) and each lock plate  1021  includes fastener holes  1026  configured to receive the fastener sets  1025 . In some embodiments, lock plates  1020  and  1021  and energy-dispersion objects  1030  and  1031  are assembled into complete armor unit  1001  by sliding holes  1026  of lock plates  1021  over fastener sets  1025  and tightening (e.g., tightening a bolt/washer/nut combination that forms each fastener set  1025 ). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1031  and lock plates  1021  are on the strike-face side of armor unit  1001 . 
       FIG. 10A-2  is a perspective view of multi-layer armor unit  1001  after complete assembly. In some embodiments, instead of using a two lock plates  1021  to hold energy-dispersion objects  1031  in place, a single lock plate is used. In some embodiments, armor unit  1001  includes more than two layers of energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1031  have a different size (e.g., diameter) than energy-dispersion objects  1030 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1030  and  1031  are not filled with anything and thus are hollow spheres (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1030  and  1031  are hollow 4330 steel spheres that undergo anti-ballistic treatments (e.g., a heat treatment and a surface treatment)). 
       FIG. 10B  is a side view of armor unit  1001 . 
       FIG. 10C  is a front view of armor unit  1001 . 
       FIG. 11A  is a side view of an armor unit  1101 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1101  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1130  (e.g., heat treated and case hardened AFGN energy-dispersion objects) arranged in a square-packed configuration (in some embodiments, the layer of energy-dispersion objects  1130  containing four rows of energy-dispersion objects is on the vehicle side of armor unit  1101 ). In some embodiments, the plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1130  are held in place by lock plates  1120  (e.g., 1018 steel plates). In some embodiments, lock plates  1120 /energy-dispersion objects  1130  are encased within a polymer  1140  (e.g., a high-tensile-strength polyurethane such as obtained using Andur 5 DPLM-brand prepolymer provided by Anderson Development Corporation (www.andersondevelopment.com/surv_bin.php?x={486D54-005531-7D34C9}&amp;y=1)) and thus no fastener sets are needed to hold lock plates  1120  together. 
       FIG. 11B  is a side view of an armor unit  1102 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1102  is substantially similar to armor unit  1101  except that energy-dispersion objects  1130 . 1  replace energy-dispersion objects  1130 , three lock plates  1120  are used rather than four, and the layer of energy-dispersion objects  1130 . 1  containing four rows of energy-dispersion objects is on the strike-face side of armor unit  1102 . In some embodiments, instead of glass-filled nylon, energy-dispersion objects  1130 . 1  are filled with solid steel spheres  1132  having a diameter of about 6.35 mm (¼ inch). In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1130 . 1  have a diameter of about 76 mm (3 inches). In some embodiments, an air gap of about 76-102 mm (3 to 4 inches) is kept between separate armor units  1102 . 
       FIG. 12A  is a side view of an armor unit  1201 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1201  includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1231  (e.g., hardened-shell hollow 4330 steel spheres that are heat treated and surface treated and that have a diameter of about 102 mm (4 inches)), and a plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1230  (e.g., heat treated and case hardened AGFN spheres made of 4330 steel that have a diameter of about 102 mm (4 inches)). In some embodiments, the plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1230  and  1231  are held in place in a square-configuration with lock plates  1220  (e.g., 1018 steel plates) and fastener sets  1225 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1231  are on the vehicle side of armor unit  1201 . 
       FIG. 12B  is a front view of armor unit  1201 . In the front view of  FIG. 12B , the hollow energy-dispersion objects  1231  cannot be seen because they are directly behind the outside layer of energy-dispersion objects  1230 . 
       FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional side view of a multi-purpose armor unit  1301 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1301  includes a rear assembly  1302  (vehicle side) and a front assembly  1303  (strike-face side). In some embodiments, rear assembly  1302  includes a plurality of small energy-dispersion objects  1331  (e.g., in some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1331  have a diameter of about 13 mm (½ inch)) that are tightly packed within a container  1340 . In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1331  fit so tightly into container  1340  that objects  1331  cannot move. In some such embodiments, one or more shims are used to achieve this tight fit. In some embodiments, energy-dispersion objects  1331  are heat treated, case hardened (e.g., the DYNA-BLUE® FNC-process), and/or tool coated (e.g., a BALINIT® tool coating such as provided by Oerlikon-Balzer) to enhance strength, durability, hardness, and wear-resistance of energy-dispersion objects  1331 . In some embodiments, an air gap is kept between assembly  1302  and assembly  1303 . In some embodiments, container  1340  is made of a metal or a suitable high-strength material (e.g., aluminum, carbon fiber, glass-filled nylon, or the like). In some embodiments, container  1340  is perforated for lighter weight. In some embodiments, container  1340  is connected to a vehicle by bolting container  1340  directly to the vehicle (e.g., with fastener sets  1325  of assembly  1303 ). In other embodiments, container  1340  is slid into slots on the exterior of the vehicle (see, e.g., vehicle pockets  1580  of  FIG. 15 ). In some embodiments, container  1340  includes a port  1341  for filling the container with the plurality of energy-dispersion objects  1331 . In some embodiments, assembly  1303  is substantially similar to armor unit  1001  of  FIG. 10A-2  except that, in some embodiments, assembly  1303  has energy-dispersion objects  1330  in layers of two rows (energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 1 ) and three rows (energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 2 ) rather than layers of four rows and three rows as shown in  FIG. 10B , energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 2  have a larger diameter than energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 1 , and energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 1  are held in place by a single lock plate  1320 . In some embodiments, the energy-dispersion objects  1330 . 1 ,  1330 . 2  and  1331  are spherical balls, and the relative sizes of balls  1331 , balls  1330 . 2  and balls  1330 . 1  are as shown in  FIG. 13 . In other embodiments, the relative sizes of balls  1331 , balls  1330 . 2  and balls  1330 . 1  are approximately as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     In some embodiments, multi-purpose armor unit  1301  is configured to stop both EFP (explosively-formed penetrators) and RPG (rocket-propelled grenade) or other similar anti-armor-missile-delivered-shaped-charge warheads. In some embodiments, armor unit  1301  is further configured to defeat conventional armor-piercing (AP) ballistic projectiles such as bullets and long-rod penetrators (e.g., Sabot-dart anti-tank rounds from M1 tanks). In some embodiments, assembly  1303  is configured to stop the larger projectiles (e.g., EFP, long-rod Sabot-discarding penetrators, bullets, and the like), and assembly  1302  is configured to stop anti-armor, RPG-type shaped-charge warheads. In some embodiments, assembly  1302  works much like the ball-bearing layer in the bottom of a water-jet cutter sink that is employed to protect the catchment sink from being destroyed over time by the spray through the jet of the water jet. In some embodiments, the shaped surfaces of the smaller units in rear assembly  1302  serve to deflect, dissipate and divert the “stream” of shaped-charge penetrators. 
       FIG. 14  is a perspective view of an armor-enhanced stationary structure  1400 . In some embodiments, each of the outer walls  1410  incorporate one or more of the designs of  FIGS. 1B, 2A, 3A, 4, 9A-2, 10A-2, 11A, 11B, 12A, 13 , and/or  14  as at least part of their armor. 
       FIG. 15  is a cross-section of an armor-enhanced combat vehicle  1501 . In some embodiments, armor-enhanced combat vehicle  1501  includes a vehicle  99  that is protected by one or more sections of multi-planed armor component  1560  and single-plane armor component  1570 . In some embodiments, armor component  1570  and/or multi-planed armor component  1560  each include a plurality of layers of heat treated and surface treated AGFN energy-dispersion objects  1530 . In some embodiments, armor component  1570  and/or multi-planed armor component  1560  each include at least one layer of lock plates  1520  used to hold the energy-dispersion objects  1530  in place. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of sections of armor component  1560  and/or armor component  1570  is attached to vehicle  99  by placing it in one of a plurality of corresponding vehicle pockets  1580 . In some embodiments, the plurality of sections of armor component  1560  are connected to armor component  1570  (by bolting, by adhesive, by Velcro™ or by other suitable means) after the armor components  1560  are placed in pockets  1580 . In other embodiments, the plurality of sections of armor component  1560  remain tightly abutted to but unconnected from armor component  1570  after the armor components  1560  are placed in pockets  1580 . In some embodiments, a capping metal cover  1590  covers the top of the armor sections  1560  and  1570 . In other embodiments, a cover  1590  made of molded-in-place polyurethane covers the top of and holds together the armor sections  1560  and  1570 . In some embodiments, cover  1590  includes a high-durometer polyurethane such as 93A polyurethane. In some embodiments, vehicle  99  includes tires  1599  and underbelly armor  1595 . 
       FIG. 16  is a schematic drawing of a body-armor system  1601  made according to the present invention. In some embodiments, system  1601  includes an armor unit  1650  that is worn by a person  97 . In some embodiments, armor unit  1650  uses the same AGFN technology described in other embodiments of the present invention except that the size of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects used in the armor unit  1650  is drastically reduced (e.g., in some embodiments, the energy-dispersion objects used in armor unit  1650  have a diameter of about 1.6 mm ( 1/16 inch), of about 3 mm (⅛ inch), of about 6 mm (¼ inch), or any other suitable diameter) and/or individual components of previously described armor units are eliminated. For example, in some embodiments, lock-plates and fastener sets are removed and layers of energy-dispersion objects are embedded in a composite fiber jacket or vest that comprises armor unit  1650  worn by person  97 . 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides an armor system that includes a first armor article that includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects arranged in a predetermined configuration, wherein the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes a plurality of hardened-shell (initially hollow) objects, and wherein at least some of the plurality of hardened-shell objects are filled with a filler material; and a constraint mechanism configured to hold the plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the predetermined configuration. In some embodiments, the constraint mechanism includes a lock mechanism (e.g., steel plates with holes or indentations that hold the energy-dispersion objects in a matrix configuration; in other embodiments, a system of welds holds the objects to one another. In yet other embodiments, a simple container such as a steel box or cage is filled with the energy-dispersion objects. In some embodiments, two or more such containment mechanisms are used. In some embodiments, the matrix of energy-dispersion objects is encased in and held in place by a Kevlar® and/or fiberglass-filled epoxy or elastomer material. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is one of a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; the armor system further including a vehicle, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming weapons. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the plurality of hardened-shell objects is a plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects is a plurality of hollow ovoids. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects is a plurality of hollow cubes. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects is a plurality of hollow cylinders, or other shapes suitable for energy dispersion of ballistic projectiles. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the predetermined configuration is a hexagonal-packed configuration. In some embodiments, the predetermined configuration is a square-packed configuration. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the lock mechanism includes a first, second, and third lock plate, wherein the plurality of hardened-shell objects includes a plurality of layers of hollow spheres, including a first layer of hollow spheres in a hexagonal-packed configuration and a second layer of hollow spheres arranged in a configuration that fills in gaps created by the hexagonal-packed configuration of the first layer of hollow spheres, wherein the first layer of hollow spheres is held in the hexagonal-packed configuration by the first and second lock plates, and wherein the second layer of hollow spheres is held in place by the third lock plate. In some embodiments, each sphere in the first layer of hollow spheres has a first outside diameter, and wherein each sphere in the second layer of hollow spheres has a second outside diameter that is smaller than the first outside diameter. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the lock mechanism includes a first, second, third, and fourth lock plate, wherein the plurality of hardened-shell objects includes a plurality of layers of hollow spheres, including a first layer of hollow spheres in a square-packed configuration and a second layer of hollow spheres arranged in a configuration that fills in gaps created by the square-packed configuration of the first layer of hollow spheres, wherein the first layer of hollow spheres are held in the square-packed configuration by a first and second lock plate, and wherein the second layer of hollow spheres are held in place with a third and fourth lock plate. In some embodiments, each sphere in the first layer of hollow spheres and each sphere in the second layer of hollow spheres has a first outside diameter. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the filler material includes a glass-filled nylon. In some embodiments, the filler material includes a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent. In some embodiments, the filler material includes a polyurethane. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of hardened-shell objects are filled with a filler material that includes a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is encased within a polymer material. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a container, wherein the plurality of hardened-shell objects includes a first set of hollow spheres and a second set of hollow spheres, wherein the first set of hollow spheres are held in place within the container, wherein the second set of hollow spheres are held in a square-packed configuration with a first, second, and third lock plate, and wherein each one of the plurality of hollow objects are filled with a glass-filled nylon. In some embodiments, each one of the first set of hollow spheres has a first outside diameter, wherein a first plurality of the second set of hollow spheres has a second outside diameter that is larger than the first diameter, and wherein a second plurality of the second set of hollow spheres has a third outside diameter that is larger than the first diameter and different than the second diameter. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is configured to conform to a substantially flat surface. In some embodiments, the first armor article is configured to conform to a substantially curved surface. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is one of a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; the armor system further including a building, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the building to protect the building from incoming weapons. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is one of a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article, wherein the plurality of armor articles are combined to form a body armor configured to protect a person from an incoming weapon. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, each one of the plurality of hardened-shell objects is a hollow sphere made of a material that includes a metal. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of hardened-shell objects is a hollow sphere made of a material that includes a metal alloy. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of hardened-shell objects is a hollow sphere made of a material that includes steel. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the constraint mechanism includes at least one lock plate made from a material that includes steel. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a plurality of lock plates, wherein each lock plate of the plurality of lock plates has a plurality of holes, wherein each one of the plurality of holes has a first diameter, wherein each one of the plurality of hollow objects has a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter such that a layer of the plurality of objects can be held in the predetermined configuration by at least one of the plurality of lock plates. In some embodiments, the plurality of lock plates includes a first lock plate and a second lock plate, wherein the layer of the plurality of hollow objects is held in the predetermined configuration between the first lock plate and the second lock plate, and wherein the lock mechanism further includes at least one fastener set configured to hold the first and second lock plates together. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a weld that connects the plurality of energy-dispersion objects together. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes an electromagnetic mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a second armor article, wherein the first armor article and the second armor article are affixed to one another such that an air gap exists between the first armor article and the second armor article 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a first armor article that includes producing a plurality of hollow hemispheres; welding pairs of the plurality of hollow hemispheres together to form a plurality of hollow spheres; forming an injection hole in each one of the plurality of hollow spheres; treating each one of the plurality of hollow spheres with an anti-ballistic treatment to form a plurality of energy-dispersion objects; injecting a filler material into at least some of the plurality of hollow spheres; and locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the first armor article is one of a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article, and the method of manufacturing the armor system further includes providing a vehicle; and affixing the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming weapons. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the producing of the plurality of hollow hemispheres includes casting a plurality of hollow steel hemispheres. In some embodiments, the producing of the plurality of hollow hemispheres includes stamping a plurality of hollow steel hemispheres out of sheet steel. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the welding of the pairs of the plurality of hollow hemispheres together includes spin welding the pairs together. In some embodiments, the welding of the pairs of the plurality of hollow hemispheres together includes laser welding the pairs together. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the forming of the injection hole includes drilling the injection hole. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the injecting of the filler material includes injecting a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent into at least some of the plurality of hollow spheres. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the treating includes applying a case-hardening treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the applying of the case-hardening treatment includes applying a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC) treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the applying of the case-hardening treatment includes applying a carbonitriding treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a heat treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a tool-coat treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the locking of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes placing the plurality of energy-dispersion objects in a least one lock plate. In some embodiments, the locking of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes placing a first layer of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects in between a first and second lock plate, and holding the first and second lock plate together with at least one fastener set. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the method further includes providing a second armor article substantially similar to the first armor article; and affixing the first armor article and the second armor article to one another such that an air gap exists between the first armor article and the second armor article. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the first armor article, the locking includes locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a hexagonal-packed configuration. In some embodiments, the locking includes locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a square-packed configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a first armor article that includes a plurality of metal lock plates; and at least one layer of energy-dispersion objects that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place by at least two of the plurality of lock plates, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes a plurality of hollow steel spheres, each hollow steel sphere injected with a glass-filled nylon material. 
     In some embodiments, the first armor article further includes a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; and a vehicle, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments, the first armor article further includes a second armor article, wherein the first armor article and the second armor article are affixed to one another such that an air gap exists between the first armor article and the second armor article. 
     In some embodiments of the first armor article, the first plurality of hollow steel spheres is further injected with a bubbling agent. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides an armor system that includes a first armor article that includes a plurality of energy-dispersion objects arranged in a predetermined configuration, wherein the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes a plurality of hollow objects, and wherein at least some of the plurality of hollow objects are filled with an inner filler material; and a lock mechanism configured to hold the plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is one of a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; the armor system further including a vehicle, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming weapons. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of hollow ovoids. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of hollow cubes. In some embodiments, the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of hollow cylinders. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the predetermined configuration includes a hexagonal-packed configuration, wherein a majority of the plurality of hollow objects do not touch (are not in direct contact with) their respective nearest-neighbor hollow objects. In some embodiments, the majority includes all of the plurality of hollow objects in the first armor article. In some embodiments, the predetermined configuration includes a hexagonal-packed configuration. In some embodiments, the predetermined configuration includes a square-packed configuration. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the lock mechanism includes a first, second, and third lock plate, wherein the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of layers of hollow spheres, including a first layer of hollow spheres in a hexagonal-packed configuration and a second layer of hollow spheres, stacked on the first layer, and arranged in a configuration that fills in gaps created by the hexagonal-packed configuration of the first layer of hollow spheres, wherein the first layer of hollow spheres is held in the hexagonal-packed configuration by the first and second lock plates, and wherein the second layer of hollow spheres is held in place by the third lock plate. In some embodiments, each sphere in the first layer of hollow spheres has a first outside diameter, and wherein each sphere in the second layer of hollow spheres has a second outside diameter that is smaller than the first outside diameter. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the lock mechanism includes a first, second, third, and fourth lock plate, wherein the plurality of hollow objects includes a plurality of layers of hollow spheres stacked one layer upon another, including a first layer of hollow spheres in a square-packed configuration and a second layer of hollow spheres, stacked on the first layer, and arranged in a configuration that fills in gaps created by the square-packed configuration of the first layer of hollow spheres, wherein the first layer of hollow spheres are held in the square-packed configuration by a first and second lock plate, and wherein the second layer of hollow spheres are held in place with a third and fourth lock plate. In some embodiments, each sphere in the first layer of hollow spheres has a diameter and each sphere in the second layer of hollow spheres has a diameter, and the diameters of each sphere in the first layer of hollow spheres are equal to one another and to the diameters of each sphere in the second layer of hollow spheres. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the inner filler material includes a glass-filled nylon. In some embodiments, the inner filler material includes a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent. In some embodiments, the inner filler material includes a polyurethane. In some embodiments, all of the plurality of hollow objects are filled with the inner filler material, and wherein the inner filler material includes a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent. In some embodiments, the first armor article is encased within an exterior encasing material that includes a polymer. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a container, wherein the plurality of hollow objects includes a first set of hollow spheres and a second set of hollow spheres, wherein the first set of hollow spheres are held in place within the container, wherein the second set of hollow spheres are held in a square-packed configuration with a first, second, and third lock plate, and wherein each one of the plurality of hollow objects is filled with a glass-filled nylon. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a container, wherein the plurality of hollow objects includes a first set of hollow spheres and a second set of hollow spheres, wherein the first set of hollow spheres are held in place within the container, wherein the second set of hollow spheres are held in a square-packed configuration with a first, second, and third lock plate, and wherein each one of the plurality of hollow objects is filled with a glass-filled nylon, wherein each one of the first set of hollow spheres has a first outside diameter, wherein a first plurality of the second set of hollow spheres has a second outside diameter that is larger than the first diameter, and wherein a second plurality of the second set of hollow spheres has a third outside diameter that is larger than the first diameter and different than the second diameter. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the first armor article is configured to conform to a substantially flat vehicle surface. In some embodiments, the first armor article is configured to conform to a curved vehicle surface. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; and a building, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the building to protect the building from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are combined to form a body armor configured to protect a person from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, each one of the plurality of hollow objects is a hollow sphere made of a material that includes a metal. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of hollow objects is a hollow sphere made of a metal alloy. In some embodiments, each one of the plurality of hollow objects is a hollow sphere made of a material that includes steel. 
     In some embodiments of the armor system, the lock mechanism includes at least one lock plate made from steel. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes a plurality of lock plates, wherein each lock plate of the plurality of lock plates has a plurality of holes, wherein each one of the plurality of holes has a first size, wherein each one of the plurality of hollow objects has a size that is larger than the first size such that a layer of the plurality of objects can be held in the predetermined configuration by at least one of the plurality of lock plates. In some embodiments, the plurality of lock plates includes a first lock plate and a second lock plate, wherein the layer of the plurality of hollow objects is held in the predetermined configuration between the first lock plate and the second lock plate, and wherein the lock mechanism further includes at least one fastener set configured to hold the first and second lock plates together. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes welds that connect the plurality of energy-dispersion objects together. In some embodiments, the lock mechanism includes an electromagnetic mechanism. 
     In some embodiments, the armor system further includes a second armor article, wherein the first armor article and the second armor article are affixed to one another in a manner that forms an air gap between the first armor article and the second armor article. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an armor system, the armor system including a first armor article, the method including producing a plurality of hollow hemispheres; affixing pairs of the plurality of hemispheres to one another to form a first plurality of spheres; inserting a filler material into each one of the hollow hemispheres to form a plurality of filled hemispheres; treating each one of the plurality of spheres with an anti-ballistic treatment to form a plurality of energy-dispersion objects; and locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the inserting of the filler material into each of the plurality of hemispheres is performed before affixing the pairs of hemispheres together. In some embodiments, the affixing of pairs of the plurality of hemispheres to one another to form the first plurality of spheres is performed before inserting of the filler material, the method further comprising forming an injection hole in each one of the plurality of spheres, and wherein the inserting includes injecting the filler material through the injection hole. In some embodiments, the inserting of the filler material into each of the plurality of hemispheres is performed as part of the affixing of the pairs of hemispheres together. 
     In some embodiments, the method further includes manufacturing a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; providing a vehicle; and affixing the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the producing of the plurality of hollow hemispheres includes casting the plurality of hollow hemispheres from steel. In some embodiments, the producing of the plurality of hollow hemispheres includes stamping the plurality of hollow hemispheres out of sheet steel. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the affixing includes welding the pair of hemispheres together. In some embodiments, the welding of the pairs of the plurality of hollow hemispheres together includes spin welding the pairs together. In some embodiments, the welding of the pairs of the plurality of hollow hemispheres together includes laser welding the pairs together. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the forming of the injection hole includes drilling the injection hole. In some embodiments, the injecting of the filler material includes injecting a glass-filled nylon and a bubbling agent into at least some of the plurality of hollow spheres. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the treating includes applying a case-hardening treatment to each one of the plurality of spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a case-hardening treatment to each one of the plurality of spheres, and wherein the applying of the case-hardening treatment includes applying a ferritic nitrocarburizing (FNC) treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a case-hardening treatment to each one of the plurality of spheres, and wherein the applying of the case-hardening treatment includes applying a carbonitriding treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a heat treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a tool-coat treatment to each one of the plurality of hollow spheres. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the locking of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes placing the plurality of energy-dispersion objects between a pair of lock plates. In some embodiments, the locking of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes placing some of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects between a first lock plate and a second lock plate, and placing a remainder of the plurality of energy-dispersion objects between the second lock plate and a third lock plate, and holding the first and second lock plate together with at least one fastener set. 
     In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the armor system further includes manufacturing a second armor article substantially similar to the first armor article; and affixing the first armor article and the second armor article to one another and forming an air gap between the first armor article and the second armor article. 
     In some embodiments of the method for manufacturing the armor system, the locking includes locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a hexagonal-packed configuration. In some embodiments, the locking includes locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a square-packed configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a first armor article that includes a plurality of metal lock plates including a first metal lock plate and a second metal lock plate; and a first layer of energy-dispersion objects that includes a first plurality of energy-dispersion objects, wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects in the first layer are held in place by and between the first lock plate and the second lock plate, and wherein the first plurality of energy-dispersion objects includes a plurality of hollow steel spheres, each steel sphere filled with a glass-filled nylon material. 
     In some embodiments, the first armor article further includes a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; and a vehicle, wherein the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles are affixed to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments, the first armor article further includes a second armor article, wherein the first armor article and the second armor article are affixed to one another such that an air gap exists between the first armor article and the second armor article. 
     In some embodiments of the first armor article, the first plurality of hollow steel spheres is further injected with a bubbling agent. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a system for forming a first armor article, the system including a plurality of hollow hemispheres; means for affixing pairs of the plurality of hemispheres to one another to form a first plurality of spheres; means for inserting a filler material into each one of the hollow hemispheres to form a plurality of filled hemispheres; means for treating each one of the plurality of spheres to form a plurality of energy-dispersion objects; and means for locking the plurality of energy-dispersion objects into a predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments of the system for forming the first armor article, the means for affixing include means for welding the pair of hemispheres together. In some embodiments, the means for treating includes means for applying a case-hardening treatment to each one of the plurality of spheres. In some embodiments, the means for treating includes means for applying a heat treatment to each one of the plurality of spheres. In some embodiments, the system further includes a plurality of other armor articles each substantially similar to the first armor article; a vehicle; and means for affixing the first armor article and the plurality of other armor articles to the vehicle to protect the vehicle from incoming projectiles. 
     In some embodiments, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing an armor system, the armor system including a first armor article, the method including producing a plurality of hollow hemispheres; affixing pairs of the plurality of hemispheres to one another to form a first plurality of spheres; treating each one of the plurality of hemispheres with an anti-ballistic treatment; inserting a filler material into each one of the plurality of hemispheres; and locking the first plurality of spheres into a predetermined configuration. 
     In some embodiments, the method for manufacturing the armor system further includes forming an injection hole in each one of the first plurality of spheres, wherein the treating includes applying a heat treatment to each one of the first plurality of spheres, and wherein the inserting includes injecting the filler material into each one of the first plurality of spheres through the injection hole after the applying of the heat treatment. In some embodiments, the treating includes applying a heat treatment and a surface treatment to each one of the first plurality of spheres. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Although numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments as described herein have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, many other embodiments and changes to details will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein,” respectively. Moreover, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc., are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. It is further to be understood that the individual components of the embodiments described above can be interchanged with each other such that components from separately described embodiments and/or Figures can be combined and/or omitted to create additional embodiments of the present invention.