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Law enforcement officials are facing constant danger as part of their duties, which is why they need all the protection that they can get. Body armor, helmets, and padding are all provided to police officers, FBI agents, and soldiers. For years, enforcers were also given riot shields to protect them from harm, but they often proved too cumbersome. Now, scientists have created a lightweight shield that can be folded origami-style and is much easier to carry.
The shield was created by Brigham Young University engineers and it can reportedly stop handgun bullets fired at close range, Popular Mechanics reports. Aside from being much lighter than conventional shields, which can weigh up to 100lbs, one of the shield’s most impressive features is the fact that it can be folded like an origami paper.
This makes it much easier to carry since it isn’t cumbersome at all. During tense scenarios where being able to move fast is key, this is an especially important aspect.
Based on the “Yoshimura” crease pattern, the shield’s form is made up of creases in the shape of triangles. When folded, it can be the size of an average suitcase. Once deployed, it can become large enough to cover up to three people at once.
This removes one of the problems of conventional shields as well, which is the limited cover despites its weight. As a result, when there is a need to protect civilians, even just one shield can provide plenty of protection.
Up to 12 layers of Kevlar make up the protection that the shield’s users are getting, Slash Gear reports. It could have been less to make the shield even lighter, but the engineers determined that it needed at least that many layers to suit the needs of the law enforcers who will use them. As a result, even if officers are shot with a .44 magnum at close range, they won’t get hurt.
