Ancient art of paper folding inspires design of light-weight ballistic shield; ATCS Shield delivers new safety options for law enforcement, military, personal security and other markets

SALT LAKE CITY—Advanced Technology Compliant Solutions today introduced a true step forward in ballistic protection with the ATCS Shield. The patented design is based on origami (the ancient art of paper folding) principles that enable it to collapse down to the size of a notebook for storage. When needed, the ATCS Shield instantly unfolds to provide six square-feet of light-weight, NIJ Level IIIA ballistic protection. The shield is being unveiled at the SHOT Show, booth 32009 with strategic partner, AEGIX Global, who will be selling and marketing the ATCS Shield into the law enforcement space.

“The world has seen very little practical evolution in body armor since the introduction of Kevlar®, nearly 50 years ago,” said William Benz, President and CEO of ATCS. “According to an FBI study, in recent years, 67 percent of police officers shot and killed in the line of duty were wearing body armor such as a vest when they were killed(1). This was the motivation behind the development of the ATCS Shield because, while vests are necessary, there was something more—something different that was desperately needed. The ATCS Shield provides new options to protect those who put their lives on the line in the service of society every day.”

The innovative origami design is based on research conducted and patents filed by members of the Compliant Mechanisms Research Group (CMR) at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah: compliantmechanisms.byu.edu. The 2018 paper, “Origami-Based Deployable Ballistic Barrier,” describes how recent developments in “origami crease pattern adaptation, surrogate folds … enabled the development of an origami-based deployable ballistic barrier.”(2)

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.

“In a world of active shooters, the ATCS Shield represents a new category in personal protection in law enforcement because it is ready to deploy-and-protect any time,” said Chet Linton, CEO of AEGIX Global. “83 percent of officer deaths are in or around their vehicles and the shield offers a new level of protection. Its foldable nature makes it possible to store in an officer’s car door, in between the front seats or backpack. It can be deployed on a windshield, folded in half on top of the trunk or hood of an officer’s vehicle. The tactical applications for the shield are endless.”

ATCS Shield Product Features

  • Origami Folds: enable rapid deployment with small storage footprint
  • Fully Deployed Size: 24” x 36”, provides six square feet of light-weight ballistic protection
  • Armor Level: NIJ Level IIIA, provides protection against most common threats
  • Weight: 5 lbs.— low weight makes it easy for anyone to use and move quickly with
  • Advanced Armor Materials: Armor plating made of specially processed ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene materials
  • Exterior Materials: Hypalon® (chlorosulfonated polyethylene) provides a chemical resistant, waterproof and flexible yet firm covering that can be provided in a variety of colors or patterns

Law enforcement agencies and departments interested in procuring ATCS Shields for their officers and agents, please visit www.aegixglobal.com.

References:
1. CRS presentation of data from U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2014, Table 40. https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43544.pdf
2. Seymour, Kenny; Burrow, Dakota; Avila, Alex; Bateman, Terri; Morgan, David C.; Magleby, Spencer P.; and Howell, Larry L., “Origami-Based Deployable Ballistic Barrier” (2018). Faculty Publications. 2981.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/2981

About ATCS

ATCS (Advanced Technology Compliant Solutions) is headquartered in Utah, and its core mission is to develop innovative products that help save lives. 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. For more, please visit https://atcompliantsolutions.com/.

About AEGIX Global, LLC

AEGIX is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is focused on making a positive global impact by providing mission-specific resources, leading technology, equipment and practical and tactical training to those who are first on scene, in combat or gathering intelligence. These resources, products and services result in safeguarding lives, enabling justice and improving communities. AEGIX serves local, tribal, state and federal law enforcement departments and agencies, humanitarian groups, militaries, NATO and major non-NATO allied governments worldwide. For more, please visit https://aegixglobal.com/.