0
Smart armor being developed by scientists and engineers at U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center in Michigan can not only predict its own failure, but also identify the size of bullets shot at it and even generate electrical power upon impact.
"As a kid, everyone played those video games that showed you how much armor you had left as a percentage bar," said John Wray, a TARDEC contractor. "That's exactly what we're working on here and more."
Intelligent armor is based on piezoelectrics, or materials that generate a small voltage when bent. The reverse is also true: Apply a small voltage, and a piezoelectric material will bend.
The sensors TARDEC scientists are installing on armor plates use both features. The armor itself isn't new, but the sensors are. Each plate of armor, whether its wrapped around a soldier's body or a vehicle's chassis, has two piezeoelectric sensors attached to it.
Source
