The experts at ATCS leverage advanced materials technologies, state-of-the-art product designs, and leading-edge manufacturing techniques to bring to market the first truly breakthrough products for personal body protection in decades.

Advanced materials such as carbon fibers, polyethylene and ceramics have been developed in recent years that drastically enhance impact energy absorption and dispersion, but light-weight, practical solutions for real-world use have not come to market. Until now.

“The world has seen very little practical evolution in body armor since the introduction of Kevlar®, nearly 50 years ago. According to an FBI study, most police officers shot and killed in the line of duty are wearing vests when they are killed. This was the motivation behind the development of the ATCS Shield because, while vests are necessary, there was something more—something different that was needed. The ATCS Shield provides new options to protect those who put their lives on the line every day.”

— William Benz, President and CEO of ATCS

Origami-Inspired Ballistic Breakthrough

Dr. Larry Howell is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University where his research focuses on compliant mechanisms including origami (the Ancient Art of paper folding)-inspired mechanisms. In 2018 Dr. Howell, et al, issued the paper: “Origami-Based Deployable Ballistic Barrier.” It describes how recent developments in “origami crease pattern adaptation, surrogate folds … enabled the development of an origami-based deployable ballistic barrier.” Several patents were filed and new options for personal protection were conceived.  

ATCS secured exclusive licensing rights from BYU, and then leveraged engineers, materials experts, law enforcement professionals, and combat military veterans to develop state-of-the-art practical solutions. The ATCS Shield is the first real-world application of this technology.