Soldier protective clothing and equipment
Subtitle: feasibility of chemical testing using a fully articulated robotic mannequin
By: Committee on Full-System Testing and Evaluation of Personal Protection Equipment Ensembles in Simulated Chemical-Warfare Environments, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Division on Earth and Life Studies, National Research Coucnil of the National Academies.
Contributors: National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Full-System Testing and Evaluation of Personal Protection Equipment Ensembles in Simulated Checmial-Warfare Environments.; National Research Council (U.S.). Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology.
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2008
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 157
ISBN-13: 9780309109338
Subjects: Chemicals -- Safety measures -- Testing; Protective clothing -- Testing; Soldiers -- Equipment and supplies -- Quality control
Description: There is an ongoing need to test and ensure effectiveness of personal protective equipment that soldiers use to protect themselves against chemical warfare agents. However, testing using human subjects presents major challenges and current human-size thermal mannequins have limited testing capabilities. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) along with their counterparts from other countries are seeking to develop more human like mannequins, which would include features like human motion, in order to carry out more advanced chemical testing. At the request of DOD Product Director, Test Equipment, Strategy and Support, the National Research Council formed an ad hoc committee to evaluate the feasibility of developing an advanced humanoid robot, or Protection Ensemble Test Mannequin (PETMAN) system that meets the DOD requirements. The book concludes that although most of the individual requirements can technically be met, fulfilling all of the requirements is currently not possible. Based on this conclusion the committee recommends that DOD considers three issues, prioritization of current system requirements, use qualified contractor for particular technical aspects, incorporate complementary testing approaches to the PETMAN system.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

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