I need help

[Mr. Killing Spree]

So this thread is about equipment, but not airsoft... I am doing a Science fair project and i want to solve a problem with the tactical equipment that the army uses, so I was wondering if any army or ex army guys out there could tell me some of the problems that you have encountered with your equipment and what you would want changed to make it better any input would be much appriciated

P.S. the problem can not have anything to do with the gun or explosives because that is not allowed in the project, but anything with the tac equipment is ok.

[league 4]

Hell you don't have to be in the Army to know how the IOTV was a disaster, and the KDH "SPCS" was just as bad of a mistake.

[Zack]

Actually, being in the Army, I can tell you the IOTV was a godsend. It is lighter than the IBA, supported on your body better, had fast access for medics, easy to ditch in water, and the side plates weren't a retarded after thought.

It's a really broad subject, maybe you could narrow it down?

Overall though, the largest problem is materials science. Such as equipments housing bodies, helmets, and body armour plates are all very heavy to do their job. Clothing has to have certain properties (fire resistance, IR signature), but that makes it not very comfortable.

Don't know if that helps.

[MarksInnerDemon]

Back in my day (ohhh god I really said that) I was a international science fair participant, won a army award for a chemcial identifying nose I tested, and was a 5 time finalist and 2 time winner for inventing. Went on 4 international talk shows on the subject as well. Since then I have lost my brain, been useless in the field of science and devoted my wasted college career to int politics in college.

I might be of some assistance, but first is this a science fair or a invention convention.

Science you make a hypothsis. For instance lets go with LBE setups. Many now days prefer a full chest rig, while others throughout history (including some people returning to it) have had most of there equipment at their waist.

Hypothsis. A load based on a waste system which is suspended from the shoulders and sitson the waste will be less abusive then that of a chest rig.

I create tests and because this is a human subject kind of deal I would have to use not only data on how people feel, but look at the science of people and the spine etc.

This is actually one of my hypothesis and I am testing it right now, but it doesn't facilitate modern military tactics currently (urbanized tactics). The setup however has been revitalized in Afghanistan.

One that you MIGHT be able to do is recognition and identifcation of different objects through a 3x versus a standard sight amataeur. Get a picitini rail. stick it on a mount for tripod you have it. Test speed of recognition of objects at various distances, and detail of object.

[Mr. Killing Spree]

It is just a school a school science fair where I could either make an invention, add to an existing one, or I could just test something like a science fair but I need a question that I make up and answer in my research I think I will go with of the inventing ideas and I like the waist rig.... does it still need an h harness on it to hold it up?

P.S. I like the idea of the object recognition recognition but I am looking for something a bit more advanced and i like the waist based rig idea ... do you think you could give me a bit more info on this system you are testing?
-Thank you

[Steve]

I'd compare the fighting loads carried historically, in terms of equipment carried and total system weight. Pretty sure that as each individual piece of kit advances and weighs less, more individual bits get added, so the weight carried never actually decreases.

Want a good project? build something in the same form factor of two CR123A batteries that is rechargeable and delivers 6v of power at the correct amperage. The Army goes through a metric butt-ton of 3v CR123A batteries, and the "rechargeable" cells push 3.7v each, which dumps a voltage spike into equipment. Incandescent flashlight bulbs rated for 6v of current blow at 7.4v. LEDs generally survive, but are not real useful when used with an IR filter, since there is not enough heat produced by the bulb to generate light.

And as a plus, the Surefire G2 non-LED lights are discontinued almost everywhere, so you can get them pretty cheaply. Build a rechargeable 6v pack, and then as the second part of your process, estimate the (ginormous) cost savings that could be had by switching from CR123A batteries to your rechargeable packs.

[Mr. Killing Spree]

thank you for the suggestion, it sounds interesting I will look into it and see what I can do