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The ABBS technology provides complete protection for the occupants of a vehicle hit be a mine or IED. This requires three different systems to deal with each individual threat.
About
The ABBS system provides complete protection for the occupants of a vehicle hit be a mine or IED. The threats that can kill or cause severe injuries are:- 1) pentration of the belly plate can lead to fragments and high pressure/high temperature gases entering the cabin, all of which can kill. 2) Deformation of the belly plate (without failure) and consequent intrusion into the cabin space can fracture limbs, pelvis and spine or in the worst case crush the occupants against the roof. 3) Within the first few milliseconds of the blast event the shock wave passing through the vehicle structure causes the vehicle floor to vibrate so violently that it will fracture ankles and lower limb bones. 4) Global acceleration of the whole vehicle (i.e. being blown rapidly into the air) can cause excessive G-loadings on the occupants leading to pelvic, spinal and neck compression fractures and other internal injuries which can kill. Solutions for each threat:- Threat 1) and 2):- Solution is a very strong and stiff carbon fibre reinforced steel belly plate to maximise strength and minimise deformation. Threat 3):- Solution is an active floor system that removes the floor from under the occupant's feet within 1-2ms of the mine exploding. Threat 4):- Solution is extremely fast-acting and powerful patented Linear Rocket Motors (LRM) that push down on the vehicle to counteract the mine blast lifting forces. Stroking energy absorbing seats can also contribute to this solution.
Key Benefits
1) The vehicle occupants are completely protected from any mine/IED threat within the design capability of the system. 2) The vehicle is held on the ground rather than being overturned or thrown several metres in the air, hence it is not further damaged by rolling or the landing back on the ground. 3) Remaining upright on it's wheels/tracks, and the crew being uninjured the vehicle weapons can still be used to provide defensive covering fire. 4) Being confident of their protection in a mine/IED threat environment the crew are more likely to press forward in an engagement to attack the enemy rather than being cautious and ineffective. 5) The device can counteract the global acceleration forces, preventing one of hte main causes of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
Applications
1) Military armoured vehicles, light-weight Special Forces vehicles. 2) UN Aid and other mine clearance operation vehicles. 3) Civilian vehicle mine protection. 4) A high-level VIP vehicle fully protected from both blast and ballistic threats.