h a l f b a k e r y
If you need to ask, you can't afford it.
idea:
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, best, random
meta:
news, help, about, links, report a problem
account:
Browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
Login
Create account.
|
|
|
I have noticed that soldiers tend to be heavily equipped but essentially defenceless to aerial attack and detection. Forced to endure rain and cold, at the mercy of shell splinters and light arms fire, more can be done to equip them for the hostile environment of modern battlefields.
The UGPP has
a patented set of 32 spring nickel / titanium /steel ribs, tempered to resist bending. The canopy is made of non-aligned aramid fibre, reinforced with boron and aluminium oxide compounds, making it shrapnel and bulletproof to light calibre weapons. It is also IR absorbent.
The device may be mounted to the shoulders of the user, using the proprietary harness. This is especially useful for soldiers, as it can be coloured in a number of disruptive camouflage patterns to provide low visibility characteristics against aerial surveillance aircraft and drones.
Doubling as a rain shelter and a shrapnel proof shield it may also be used as a riot shield, by police and armed forces. Inverted it can be used for rainwater collection.
In extreme cases it may also be used as an aerial drogue or a vehicle ejection device.
StormShield
http://www.raindrop...g/Stormshield_.html
a fine, fine umbrella [neilp, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
NYPD umbrellas--see annos
http://www.halfbake...om/idea/NYPD_20Blow
[ldischler, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Combat umbrella
http://www.halfbake...a/Kevlar_20Umbrella
As suggested by Size_mick in an annotation [scubadooper, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
Umbrella Weapon
http://www.guardian...1017,870494,00.html
Assassination of Georgi Markov. [DrBob, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]
A gentleman's guide to Umbrella self-defence
http://ejmas.com/jn...ton-wright_0400.htm
[ConsulFlaminicus, Jan 30 2005]
[link]
|
| |
erm.. consumer advice "umbrellas should be better" |
|
| |
No, this a battle umbrella. A long overlooked innovation, essential to the modern, self-contained fighting man. |
|
| |
hang on there.. you can't just change the idea like that.. although I admit a battle umbrella might be handy for particularly dangerous hail.. (-) > (+) |
|
| |
As a future henchman for the Penguin you should know that Batman *will* get you. |
|
| |
[neilp], I think they'd be a damned fine idea, sitting in a foxhole in the pouring rain at 2am. Been there, done that, not going back. It seemed like a romantic idea, joining school cadets. |
|
| |
Oh, damn. Someone already wrote an annotation referring to the Penguin. |
|
| |
Guess I'll have to settle for Inspector Gadget. |
|
| |
<gratuitous sexism> Need to produce it with a black lace border trimmed version, with internal vanity mirrors, for our Y-chromosome-challenged colleagues:) |
|
| |
I got nothing against the idea, other than that the Pentagon is doing everything they can to REDUCE the weight of battle rattle, not increase it. You as well as anyone else oughta know that even 2 pounds can make a difference. |
|
| |
If the handle can be telescopic, that's a good start to reducing the size constraints associated with an umbrella. |
|
| |
Plus, if a bullet can chip away at a rock (it can), then wouldn't you expect high-velocity rounds to knock this umbrella around a little, thus rendering its camo patterns less effective? |
|
| |
I'll give it a goodie, just because I think it's a good idea - but needs work. |
|
| |
While I was a little disappointed this didn't involve bowler hatted City gents duelling on the Embankment, this does seem like a neat idea. |
|
| |
This is essentially a revival of the ancient shield. I see two differences: |
|
| |
1. It's mounted on a long handle |
|
| |
2. It's retractable/stowable using umbrella mechanics. |
|
| |
I see this being collapsible, to about the size of a medium flashlight. The bulky part will be the fabric. The level of protection will depend upon fabric thickness and strength. |
|
| |
Whilst it wouldn't take the place of body armour it would allow someone in a tight spot some protection, as well as protection of comms equipment and ammunition. |
|
| |
Camo patterns with bullet/shrapnel marks are still camo patterns. A "ghillie suit" surface would make it ideal, particularly for special forces and static surveillance work. |
|
| |
Will it include the ability to become a sattalite dish? |
|
| |
I guess that's an obvious function. I don't know that it's necessary with comms technology today. A satellite phone doesn't need a dish any longer. |
|
| |
I was thinking more along the soaps and sports watching
line. |
|
| |
This whole camouflage thing - does it really work? I'm thinking you might as well just hang it out there and draw some customers with the bullet proof protection.
Here is a number of disruptive camouflage patterns to hide behind...how about the smiling likeness of your favorite celebrity...like youself or Brittney, Janet Jackson's Big and Tasty, George W, Saddam, or something abstract like a pile of delicious fruits and veggies or Hostess Cupcakes and Dove Bars.
This way if you get in trouble, you can sneek out the bottom and crawl to safety while they try to pick off watermellons and eggplants. |
|
| |
I mentioned this to a guy who used to
be with SO19, in Britain. He thought
he'd have loved one, back then. |
|
| |
I think you might be overly optomistic about either size, or the durability, but even so, and either way, +. |
|
| |
I'm not sure what you envisioned as far as mounting, so I'll suggest: It would be an advantage to have it mount in various directions, and at various distances. A similarly configured mount on the soldier's rifle might be desireable; so placing the joint and straps (or clamps or whatever) on the umbrella, rather than the soldier, maybe will save some weight. It would also allow the umbrella to be mounted to other, improvised structures. A gun mount suggests the need for a window flap. |
|
| |
The other thing I'd like to suggest is an irregular shape, with perhaps some kind of fringe. Surely a circle is right up there with a human's outline for shapes most easily recognized. |
|
| |
Sorry if this is redundant. Again, + for anything that doesn't treat soldiers as disposable. |
|
| |
I never imagined it circular. I did imagine it with disruptive pattern and textured surface/irregular shape. All of those things make it less obvious. |
|
| |
Pulling it down over a foxhole, err... personal trench, would provide a practically invisible position, with a shrapnel-resistant lid. |
|
| |
"Or CNN, I suppose?" [UB] |
|
| |
Isn't a little sad that these days CNN seems to know what's going on faster than the men and women in the field... Maybe we should get them all iPaqs that link right to CNN.com . |
|
| |
I like the idea, perhaps the covering could be removable and reversable, providing more options camo wise. |
|
| |