Modern body armor requires balancing protection, mobility, comfort, and fit. Ballistic performance remains the primary design objective, but how protective equipment interacts with the human body impacts usability and operational effectiveness. With VitalFit you can scientifically evaluate body armor for design, sizing, and issuance, and make informed decisions.

To demonstrate these capabilities, Vital Mechanics evaluated the ADIRA Carrier, a fourth-year capstone project created by Clarissa Martins in the Product Design program at the Wilson School of Design. The carrier was assessed with a generic SAPI front hard plate and generic side protective panels. The results reveal pressure points and tissue compression due to traditional plate designs, and point the way to design improvements.

Vital Mechanics has years of experience in modeling and simulating protective equipment.  We have worked with Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to analyze limitations of traditional protective equipment, for both male and female personnel. You can read a public report on female specific analysis here:  Soft Body Simulation for the Fitting of Protective Equipment.

Today, our research has matured into a practical engineering tool for defense, law enforcement, security, and protective equipment industries. As body armor systems continue to evolve, digital evaluation is becoming essential throughout the life cycle, from design to deployment. Contact us to learn how we can help you.