Abstract: A helmet assembly having a helmet, a mandible guard, and an accessory attachment system that is used to selectively attach and secure the mandible guard to the helmet is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mandible guard is arranged to be detached from a first side of the helmet while remaining secured to a second side of the helmet. In such embodiments, the mandible guard may be moved outwardly and away from a wearer as the mandible guard pivots around the accessory attachment system attached to the second side of the helmet.

Abstract: A bridge system includes messaging middleware that is configured to operate on a multi-protocol soldier personal area network (PAN) and to enable sharing of data with multiple applications in an Android OS. The bridge system is implemented on smart and semi-smart multi-protocol hubs and is used to support sharing of live power data between PAN components. The data is displayed to a user on a user interface and is used by components of the system to model and predict power requirements and power usage of the PAN components.

Abstract: A power tracking system includes a power application that receives live power data from multiple power devices that are operably connected to a personal area network (PAN) during operation of the PAN. The system stores the live power data and uses historical power data that includes previously collected live power data corresponding to the multiple power devices that was collected during previous operations to generate prediction data, including a predicted runtime of the PAN. The live power data and prediction data are displayed to a user on a user interface and is used by components of the system to model and predict power requirements and power usage of the PAN components.

Abstract: An active anti-fog eyewear system includes a lens with a conductive layer and a power source to provide an electrical current to the conductive layer. When the current is provided to the conductive layer, the conductive layer generates heat. A portion of the conductive layer that is positioned in front of the eyes of a wearer of the eyewear, and a corresponding portion of the lens, is heated more rapidly than other portions of the conductive layer and lens. Condensed water vapor is rapidly cleared from the portion of lens that is positioned in front of the wearer’s eyes. The lens can include electrodes positioned near the top of the lens to direct the current to the portion of the conductive layer that is positioned within a line of sight of the wearer.

Abstract: A rugged integrated helmet vision system includes an accessory connector for connecting an accessory such as a heads-up display (HUD) device to a helmet worn by a user. The accessory connector includes a connector arm assembly with a portion that attaches the connector to the helmet, and another portion that attaches the accessory to the connector. The portions each provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to allow adjustment of the connector with respect to the helmet, and adjustment of the accessory with respect to an eye of the user. The connector also provides the ability to lock positions of and the degrees of freedom of movement of the connector arm assembly via a single locking actuator with one-handed operation. In embodiments, a control box computer system at the helmet communicates with various soldier-portable networks to send and receive information for display by a HUD device accessory.

Abstract: A rugged integrated helmet vision system is disclosed. The system includes an accessory connector for connecting an accessory such as a heads-up display (HUD) device to a helmet worn by a user. The accessory connector includes a connector arm assembly with a portion that attaches the connector to the helmet, and another portion that attaches the accessory to the connector. The portions each provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to allow adjustment of the connector with respect to the helmet, and adjustment of the accessory with respect to an eye of the user. The connector also provides the ability to lock positions of and the degrees of freedom of movement of the connector arm assembly via a single locking actuator with one-handed operation. In embodiments, a control box computer system at the helmet communicates with various soldier-portable networks to send and receive information for display by a HUD device accessory.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively attaching an accessory mount to a helmet are disclosed. A carrier may be used to position the accessory mount on the helmet. The accessory mount may be positioned on the helmet without engaging the rim of the helmet. The carrier may be compatible with various accessory mounts to permit mounting of different accessories. The accessory mount may be a powered mount for attachment to a Night Vision Device (NVD) such as Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG), or the accessory mount may be a non-powered accessory mount.

Abstract: An armor plate system includes an integrated damage detector which may permit field testing of an armor plate. The system includes a ceramic plate and a piezoelectric transducer attached to lateral face of the ceramic plate. The piezoelectric transducer may apply a signal to the ceramic plate and receive a reflected signal. The applied signal may form a compression wave. An ultrasonic signal may be applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively attaching an accessory mount to a helmet are disclosed. A carrier may be used to position the accessory mount on the helmet. The accessory mount may be positioned on the helmet without engaging the rim of the helmet. The carrier may be compatible with various accessory mounts to permit mounting of different accessories. The accessory mount may be a powered mount for attachment to a Night Vision Device (NVD) such as Enhanced Night Vision Goggles (ENVG), or the accessory mount may be a non-powered accessory mount.

Abstract: Various embodiments of helmets and methods of their manufacture are disclosed. In some embodiments, the helmet includes a helmet shell having a helmet shell edge and/or a mounting location for mounting an accessory to the helmet shell. A material that is adherent to the helmet shell may be sprayed onto the helmet shell edge of the helmet shell to form a trim. Alternatively, the material may be sprayed onto a portion of the helmet shell associated with either a mounting location for mounting an accessory or a position for a mounted accessory.

Abstract: Attachment systems for releasably securing an accessory to an article, such as a helmet, are disclosed. In one embodiment, an attachment system (100) includes an attachment plate (102) that includes engaging features (108, 110) which engage corresponding engagement features on an attachment base (104). At least one of the engaging features (110) on the attachment plate is associated with a flexible member (112), and is movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration via deformation of the flexible member. A pair of grips (114) are provided on opposing ends of the flexible member, and the grips are pressed toward one another to move the movable engaging feature between the locked and unlocked configurations.

Abstract: Various embodiments of helmets and methods of their manufacture are disclosed. In some embodiments, the helmet includes a helmet shell having a helmet shell edge and/or a mounting location for mounting an accessory to the helmet shell. A material that is adherent to the helmet shell may be sprayed onto the helmet shell edge of the helmet shell to form a trim. Alternatively, the material may be sprayed onto a portion of the helmet shell associated with either a mounting location for mounting an accessory or a position for a mounted accessory.

Abstract: A battery combiner having three power ports for interfacing with a DC power load and with two DC power batteries or other DC power sources. A conductive path interconnects the three power ports. A switching circuit includes a switch for each of the DC power battery ports with each switch operable by a controller to direct current flow between one battery and the DC power load while isolating the other battery from the other conductive path. Sensors corresponding with each power port sense voltage and/or current from each of the external devices. Data ports corresponding with each power port allow communication between the controller and smart external devices connected to the power ports. The battery combiner is operable to power the DC power load with one battery source until the battery source is depleted and to switch to the other battery source to power the load without interruption.

Abstract: A helmet assembly having a helmet, a mandible guard, and an accessory attachment system that is used to selectively attach and secure the mandible guard to the helmet is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mandible guard is arranged to be detached from a first side of the helmet while remaining secured to a second side of the helmet. In such embodiments, the mandible guard may be moved outwardly and away from a wearer as the mandible guard pivots around the accessory attachment system attached to the second side of the helmet.

Abstract: A rugged integrated helmet vision system is disclosed. The system includes an accessory connector for connecting an accessory such as a heads-up display (HUD) device to a helmet worn by a user. The accessory connector includes a connector arm assembly with a portion that attaches the connector to the helmet, and another portion that attaches the accessory to the connector. The portions each provide multiple degrees of freedom of movement to allow adjustment of the connector with respect to the helmet, and adjustment of the accessory with respect to an eye of the user. The connector also provides the ability to lock positions of and the degrees of freedom of movement of the connector arm assembly via a single locking actuator with one-handed operation. In embodiments, a control box computer system at the helmet communicates with various soldier-portable networks to send and receive information for display by a HUD device accessory.

Abstract: A helmet assembly includes a face shield and a single, center top mounting arrangement that operatively connects a center top location of the face shield to a center front mount on the helmet. The face shield can be raised and lowered about a pivot axis provided in the mounting arrangement between a tilted up, non-use position and a lowered, deployed position. The mounting arrangement can include a detent and two recesses, wherein the detent engages a first recess at a slightly forwardly displaced position to allow ventilation between the helmet and mandible and the face shield and a second recess at the tilted up, non-use position. The recess and detent engagement can be overcome by easy manual force acting on the face shield to reposition the face shield.

Abstract: A helmet assembly having a helmet, a mandible guard, and an accessory attachment system that is used to selectively attach and secure the mandible guard to the helmet is disclosed. In some embodiments, the mandible guard is arranged to be detached from a first side of the helmet while remaining secured to a second side of the helmet. In such embodiments, the mandible guard may be moved outwardly and away from a wearer as the mandible guard pivots around the accessory attachment system attached to the second side of the helmet.

Abstract: A helmet accessory attachment member includes a finger-actuatable lock configured to secure an accessory attachment member mount to a helmet mount as part of securing an accessory such as a mandible guard to a helmet. The lock includes a pivot arm with a rotation axis that is parallel to the helmet surface, and also includes one or more blocking surfaces on the pivot arm to engage with grooves on the helmet mount. The lock may be positioned on a slidable insert of the accessory attachment member.

Abstract: Described is an energy share pack comprising a housing, at least one energy storage component within the housing, at least one energy conversion component within the housing, and a connection point for connecting to more than one of energy users, energy sources and other energy share packs simultaneously for sharing energy. The energy share pack may have an energy generation component for generating harvestable energy, and two or more ports of any combination of the following types: bidirectional power port, bidirectional USB port, unidirectional output power port, and unidirectional input power port. The share pack ports may operate simultaneously at different voltage levels, and at least one port may be bi-directional. Furthermore, the share packs may have an integrated display for providing information on the energy share pack in which the display is integrated and information about other energy share packs connected thereto.