This may look like art at first, but it’s a functional bulletproof shield. Designed by engineers and students at BYU, this folding Kevlar shield, modeled after origami practices, can stop .44 magnum bullets, thanks to 12 layers of Kevlar with aluminum panels in the middle to give it strength.
Aesthetically, the design incorporates a Yoshimura origami crease pattern, which lets the shield fold compactly down for easy storage, such as in the trunk of a police vehicle. It can be expanded in just five seconds to provide protection. Unlike conventional flat shields, this origami-inspired design features a curved shape, offering coverage from multiple angles, including the front as well as sides, and can protect up to three people at once. The shield underwent extensive testing and successfully stopped bullets from powerful handguns, including 9mm, .357 Magnum, and .44 Magnum pistols.
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Current products out there are about 90 pounds. That’s pretty heavy for one person to carry. Our goal was to go for 50 pounds and protect two to three people,” said Terri Bateman, adjunct professor of mechanical engineering at BYU.
