Colour patches indicate soldiers' blast exposure level
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a colour-changing patch that could be worn on soldiers’ helmets to indicate how badly they may have been exposed to blasts from explosives.
’We wanted to create a “blast badge” that would be lightweight, durable, power free and, perhaps most importantly, could be easily interpreted, even on the battlefield,’ said Dr Douglas Smith, professor of neurosurgery at at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.
To do so, Smith and his team built the badge from nanoscale structures whose make-up preferentially reflects certain wavelengths of light. The structures are designed to break apart when exposed to a blast shockwave and, when they do, the material’s reflective properties are modified, which in turn causes a substantial colour change.
The material is designed so that the extent of the colour change corresponds to the intensity of the blast. Next, the researchers aim to calibrate the colour change to the intensity of exposure to provide an immediate indication of the potential harm to the brain from such blasts and the subsequent need for medical intervention.
Register now to continue reading
Thanks for visiting The Engineer. You’ve now reached your monthly limit of news stories. Register for free to unlock unlimited access to all of our news coverage, as well as premium content including opinion, in-depth features and special reports.
Benefits of registering
-
In-depth insights and coverage of key emerging trends
-
Unrestricted access to special reports throughout the year
-
Daily technology news delivered straight to your inbox
Comment: The UK is closer to deindustrialisation than reindustrialisation
"..have been years in the making" and are embedded in the actors - thus making it difficult for UK industry to move on and develop and apply...