Less Harm, More Control: A Smarter Approach to Non-Lethal Weapons

Non-lethal weapons are meant to control people without killing them. But sometimes, they can still hurt or even kill if used too close. So, a new kind of projectile was made. It's called a frangible projectile. It's small, about 18. 4 mm, and it's made of a special plastic called PMMA. Inside, it has a powder called OC, which can make people unable to move. To see how well it works, scientists used a computer program called LS-DYNA. They made virtual tests to see what happens when this projectile hits something soft, like gelatine. They also tested a regular rubber projectile to compare. The new projectile is designed to break apart when it hits something. This makes the hit less strong and spreads out the force over a bigger area. It also makes the hit last longer, which means the pressure inside the target doesn't spike as much. This can make the injury less severe. When used up close, the projectile breaks open and releases the OC powder. This can control people without killing them. The tests showed that the computer simulations matched real-life results. This means the new projectile could be a better choice for non-lethal weapons. But why does this matter? Well, it's all about making non-lethal weapons safer. The goal is to control people without causing serious harm or death. This research can help make better non-lethal weapons in the future.