Clothing design and engineering come together in a $250,000 challenge to create a new chemical biological hazard suit for the military.
The United States Military’s Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD) challenge invites designers to submit ideas for how to improve on the current chemical biological suit, including range of motion, maneuverability, and temperature management. While current suits are bulky, the Proof ChemBio Suit Design Challenge seeks proposals for suits that will allow soldiers to run, climb, and face threats without the fatigue that comes from wearing a heavy, uncomfortable suit.
In particular, JPEO-CBD is looking for ways to cut down on heat inside the suits, and to better integrate the suit’s separate pieces.
Of course, the final design must also be able to stand up to chemical and biological agents as well as or better than the current design.
Participants can submit their ideas at proofchallenge.com.
Winners will be awarded from a pool according to tiers, with five winners eligible for up to $5,000, three for up to $25,000, and three for $50,000 to $150,000. In total, the ProofChallenge will award $250,000.
The challenge will begin with a ten-week submission period during which designers can submit their ideas in five different categories: mobility, integration, dexterity and tactility, heat management, and miscellaneous. The judges will score submissions and choose several to go on to the next stage of the challenge, a two-week Blitz Round held from Nov. 14 to 25 during which teams will iterate on their idea based on feedback.
The winners will be announced in early December. For more information, visit ProofChallenge.
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense
