A prototype radar system was developed by engineers at Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to detect an oncoming bullet and trigger an airbag with a bullet-proof coating. The application for this system is to protect a speaker at a podium.

The prototype successfully blocks a 9-mm round fired from a handgun, and recent technological advances are making the interception of a rifle shot possible.

image of IPPS prototype demonstration

IPPS prototype demonstration

View Video: Windows Media

The video above shows the airbag inflating and intercepting a 9-mm round. The radar triggering the airbag was a bi-static, CW Doppler radar operating at X band.

For more information about our instantaneous personal protection system capabilities, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact Tom Untermeyer at tuntermeyer@swri.org or (210) 522-5040. We can offer you the best approach for your instantaneous personal protection system solutions.

communications.swri.org

Contact Information

Tom Untermeyer

Communications and Embedded Systems

(210) 522-5040

tuntermeyer@swri.org

communications.swri.org

Related Terminology

communication devices

instantaneous personal protection system

radar systems

protection for a speaker at a podium

specification development

custom instruments

test systems

prototype development

communications engineering

| Communications and Embedded Systems Department | Automation and Data Systems Division | SwRI Home |

Southwest Research Institute^®(SwRI^®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions.

March 19, 2010