With the use and demand for commercial drones experiencing increasing demand across multiple industries and sectors, the question of moderating and standardizing safety efforts has become more important than ever. From agricultural applications to photography, infrastructure inspection, search and rescue efforts, and more, drones are an incredibly diverse tool that serves a wide range of purposes. In order to ensure optimal performance, as well as safety, testing is essential to create standards that moderate this evolving field of technology.

Below, we’ll explore some of the unique challenges faced during commercial drone testing and the crucial role it plays in unleashing the full potential of this technology. Read on to learn more.

Regulatory Compliance

As with most evolving forms of technology, one of the biggest challenges facing a standardized method of testing and evaluation is the reality of creating and enforcing regulatory compliance measures. Different regions and countries have varying approaches to regulation, and at present, there has yet to be universal adoption of standards with regard to details like flight restrictions, altitude limits, and licensing requirements. Such regulations aim to ensure airspace safety and protect the privacy of individuals and often involve applying for permits and certification to prove that a unit is in line with necessary safety protocols.

Safety and Risk Mitigation

Safety is a foremost concern in drone testing, particularly with the increase of usage in crowded urban environments and near critical infrastructure. Ensuring the safe operation of commercial drones means being able to accurately evaluate the reliability of flight control systems, emergency response mechanisms, and fail-safe measures that protect civilians from falling units and other associated risks. Rigorous testing protocols must be established to mitigate hazards and prevent accidents that could endanger lives or cause property damage.

Environmental Factors

Commercial drone testing is influenced by a wide range of environmental factors that can impact performance. External climate variables such as wind speed, temperature, humidity, and precipitation can affect drone stability, flight duration, payload capacity, and overall performance. In order to guarantee safe operation, manufacturers must know how their units will perform under different environmental conditions and be able to address any specific concerns that may come to light during the testing process.

Scalability and Performance

When considering the commercial use of drones, it’s imperative to remember that operators will rarely be utilizing a single unit and that it is entirely possible that airspace will have multiple flying objects occupying the region at any given time. As such, drone testing must not only look at how a single drone performs, but what its capacity and risk quotient are around other units within its unit by evaluating how the drone network interacts, coordinates, and shares information to accomplish complex tasks efficiently while maintaining performance benchmarks.

Data Security and Privacy

Safety often involves more than simply protecting innocent bystanders from physical harm; commercial drones often capture vast amounts of data during their operations which may include images, videos, and sensor readings, all of which may compromise private details. To ensure that drone operations stay compliant with privacy regulations, testing protocols must address data security concerns including encryption methods, secure data transmissions and other measures that ensure that the captured data remains secure and the privacy rights of individuals are respected.

Performance in Complex Environments

As with climate based concerns, it is crucial to recognize that drones are increasingly being deployed in dynamic environments with complex variables to navigate. Whether it be an urban or remote landscape, drones must be able to safely and efficiently overcome obstacles like moving objects, changing conditions, and other factors that can arise at any point. Simulating realistic environments is essential to creating safe operations, and removing unnecessary risk in such situations wherever possible.

Drone Safety Assessments and More with BioKinetics

At Biokinetics we know that one of the best ways to prevent impact injuries and reduce the risk associate with the operation of drones is through the gathering and analysis of vital information that allows manufacturers and their end users to make informed decisions with confidence. With over four decades of industry leading experience behind our team, we are proud to offer full-scale testing and assessment services for drones, as well as accident reconstruction services, ballistic testing, sports injury research and prevention assessment, and more.

Learn more about our drone testing services, as well as our entire range of testing and consulting offerings by contacting our team today!

Blunt force trauma remains one of the most dangerous and life-threatening forms of injury that can be sustained during various physical activities. Though certain effects of blunt force trauma (BFT) may become externally visible (bruises, breaks, contusions, etc), the risk of internal injuries drastically increases the chance of lethality if left undetected. Blunt force trauma testing plays an integral role in increasing our understanding of how an impact affects the body, what injuries may result, and most importantly, what kind of preventative measures may be implemented to circumvent or lessen the opportunity for such injuries to occur.

With over 45 years of innovative, industry-leading experience, Biokinetics understands how powerful knowledge is when it comes to preventing serious bodily harm. We are proud to partner with regulators, governing bodies and industry suppliers across North America to provide you with information you can trust when it matters most. Below, we’ll discuss the importance of blunt force trauma testing, as well as the benefits of partnering with Biokinetics when it comes to your evaluation needs. Read on to learn more.

What is Blunt Force Trauma?

Blunt force trauma refers to physical injuries caused by non-penetrative impact or forces striking the body. BFT commonly occurs when a solid object strikes or collides with the body, and is frequently associated with falls, motor vehicle accidents, sports, and any other activity that involves the risk of significant concussive force. There are a wide variety of factors that influence the severity of a blunt force injury, including the force of the impact, the area of the body affected, the pre-existing physical condition of the victim, and the type of object involved.

Blunt force trauma testing seeks to evaluate each of the above components and to create a normative baseline that allows for diagnosis, treatment, investigation, prevention, and creation of safety materials and environments that help to mitigate the risk of such injuries occurring. Testing focuses heavily on the following:

Understanding Injury Patterns

While every incident is unique and each injury will have aspects that differ from other occurrences, being able to understand how and why specific injuries occur is essential to reducing risk. By subjecting materials, animal models, or simulated human tissues to controlled impacts, scientists and biomechanical engineers can observe and analyze the physical effects, such as fractures, contusions, and internal injuries. The results of such testing not only provide valuable insight as to how certain impacts cause trauma, how to refine existing injury models and develop better diagnostic tools, as well as improve treatment strategies.

Further Safety Protocols

When it comes to lessening the risk of bodily harm, finding trusted methods of prevention and mitigation is key. BFT plays an integral role in enhancing safety measures across multiple applications by simulating real-world impact scenarios and enabling researchers to evaluate the effectiveness of safety equipment, such as helmets, body armour, and vehicle restraints. The data from such tests can then be used to design superior safety practices and materials that disperse kinetic energy in a less detrimental manner, reducing the negative outcomes of impacts and keeping end-users safe in real-world practices. The information gathered from blunt force trauma is also routinely used to inform manufacturers and policymakers when setting the bar for new safety standards and day-to-day best practices.

Forensic Investigations

While the preferred goal of blunt force testing is to mitigate risk in such a manner that fatalities are circumvented entirely, the unfortunate reality is that, they are an eventuality, even with our best (current) safeguards in place. BFT helps to prevent fatalities and allows for preventative education through the exploration of causes of death following an accident, distinguishing between accidental and intentional injuries, and discerning how repeat occurrences can be avoided.

Improving Product Development

Blunt force trauma testing is also essential when it comes to informing the development, and refinement of consumer products for both the private and public sphere. By subjecting materials, structures, or prototypes to controlled impact tests, manufacturers can evaluate the durability, resilience, and safety features of their designs. BFT helps to identify weaknesses and failure points and allows manufacturers to make key modifications prior to going to market to serve their customer base best and remain compliant with all relevant industry standards.

Building a Safer Path Forward

At Biokinetics, we believe that knowledge is power when it comes to preventing fatalities and dangerous injuries caused by blunt force trauma. For nearly 50 years, we’ve proudly partnered with clients across Canada and North America to offer extensive testing and assessment services for blunt force applications as well as ballistics testing, sports research, and more.

Contact Biokinetics today to learn more!

Non-lethal projectiles including rubber bullets, bean bags, and pepper balls have become an increasingly utilized method of deterrence and containment for law enforcement, security, and military involved conflicts, with the goal being to reduce harm while effectively securing and diffusing volatile scenarios.

While non-lethal projectiles, as the name suggests, are less likely to result in fatalities, they are not without significant risk that warrants an in-depth understanding and continuous evaluation to ensure the safety of all parties involved during and after repayment.

Below, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common injuries that result from the use of non-lethal projectiles, as well as preventative measures to be considered by those using such avenues in a professional context. Read on to learn more.

Understanding Non-Lethal Projectiles

Non-lethal projectiles, also referred to kinetic impact projectiles, are designed to incapacitate or deter individuals without causing fatal harm. They are often used in situations where the use of lethal force is neither necessary nor justified, and where the use of lethal force carries a far greater chance of collateral damage. Kinetic impact projectiles come in various forms, each with its unique characteristics and applications. Some of the most frequently used projectiles include:

Rubber Bullets

Most rubber bullets are made of rubber or plastic and are designed to be fired from specialized firearms. These bullets are specifically designed to disperse energy over a larger area, which reduces the risk of penetration and serious bodily harm.

Bean Bags

Bean bags are small fabric sacks filled with lead pellets that are designed to be fired from shotguns and deliver a concussive impact without penetration.

Pepper Balls: Pepper balls are projectiles filled with irritant agents like OC (oleoresin capsicum/pepper spray). The balls are designed to burst upon impact, which can serve as an effective crowd dispersal method without the use of excessive force.

Common Injuries Resulting from Non-Lethal Projectiles

It is important to note that, while each of these methods are designed to avoid significant bodily harm and reduce fatalities, they are not without the risk of injuries. Common injuries that may occur with the use of non-lethal projectiles include:

Bruising and Contusions

Due to the force behind the propulsion of non-lethal objects, and the fact that they typically strike a concentrated area, bruising and skin rupture is not uncommon. While, in most cases the bruises and contusions do not present any significant cause for medical concern, use in overly close quarters and/or poor aiming measures can result in serious injuries that could lead to long-lasting damage.

Eye Injuries

Eye injuries are a major concern when dealing with non-lethal projectiles. The head and face are high priority target areas as they increase the odds of neutralizing a violent threat. Eyes, however, are quite vulnerable to serious damage from force impacts, and those deploying projectiles should be aware of the increased risk presented by above neck targeting. 

Fractures and Bone Injuries

When fired from an appropriate distance, fractures and bone injuries are a less likely probability to result from non-lethal projectiles, however they are not an impossibility. Vulnerable areas like the skull or limbs may sustain minor (or even major) injuries from projectiles, and may require extensive treatment post incident.

Internal Injuries

Internal injuries are a rare occurrence, but remain a possibility when deploying non-lethal weaponry. Internal injuries can be particularly dangerous as they may not present until after an individual is already in custody, or has left the scene of deployment. It is therefore crucial for users to be aware of, and accountable for, the potential for internal injuries, even when dealing with seemingly non-lethal ammunition.

Preventing Collateral Damage: What Users Need to Know

To minimize the risk of injuries and avoid collateral damage when using non-lethal projectiles, users, including law enforcement and security personnel, must adhere to several important guidelines and best practices. Viable preventive measures include:

Proper Training

First and foremost, individuals who will be handling non-lethal projectiles should undergo comprehensive training that covers safe and effective deployment. Users must understand both the mechanics of the weapon/projectiles themselves, as well as the risks associated with use.

Targeting Lower Body

When feasible, projectiles should be aimed at the lower body or extremities. These areas offer a lower chance of serious injury in comparison to head or mid-body impacts.

Maintaining a Safe Distance

As indicated above, the distance between a deployer and the intended target can have significant influence on the potential for injury. Close-range shots are far more likely to result in serious damage, and thus users should be mindful of close-quarter variables and reserve such weaponry for longer range scenarios wherever possible.

In order to determine the median safe distance for each specific type of projectile, rigorous testing must be performed and results should inform best use practices for subsequent applications.

Using in Crowd Control

Non-lethal projectiles are primarily designed for crowd control and should be used as a last resort failing the success of other forms of de-escalation. Law enforcement, military, and other agencies using non-lethal weaponry must have established protocols and thresholds to be met before use of such measures are deemed acceptable.

Immediate Medical Care

Users must be prepared to provide immediate medical care to injured individuals both on-site and following their being taken into custody. This includes calling for medical assistance and administering basic first aid whenever necessary and offering access to acute care for individuals who may have sustained serious bodily harm during a confrontation.

At Biokinetics, we are proud to offer extensive testing for the safe use and deployment of non-lethal weaponry and projectiles including penetration, blunt trauma and targeting assessments. Based in Ottawa, Ontario, we believe that accurate data and knowledge is essential to the creation of reliable standards and safekeeping measures that help everyone stay safe and avoid harm during high-conflict scenarios.

Contact us today to learn more about our testing and evaluation services!

With contentious political environments and evolving world conflicts offering a rather unfortunate front-row seat to the realities of volatile situations, the importance of ensuring ballistic armour is able to stand up to field use is essential. From military efforts to policing, private protection, and more, ballistic armour plays an integral role in saving lives and allowing for effective personnel engagement in dangerous environments. Rigorous testing done by trusted teams like Biokinetics helps to ensure optimal performance and reduced risk during field operations, keeping everyone safe when it matters most.

Below we’ll take a closer look at the importance of adequately testing ballistic armour, as well as the benefits of partnering with a trusted team like Biokinetics. Read on to learn more!

Ensuring Performance and Protection

The primary objective of ballistic armour (also referred to as bulletproof vests or body armour) is to provide effective protection against projectiles and other ballistic threats. Such protective equipment is typically deployed in highly dangerous scenarios, where the threat of bodily harm and the potential for a fatality without sufficient protection is significant. Riots, police work, military purposes and other such high-risk environments make use of ballistic armour to protect personnel. In order for the armour to perform as required in specific scenarios, testing is essential. Ballistic armour testing assesses a unit’s ability to resist penetration, dissipate energy, and identify any other parameters that may serve as a limiting factor to adequate protection.

Furthermore, testing serves as a valuable form of quality assurance and helps to ensure that any design or manufacturing flaws that may be uncovered during testing can be addressed before going to market.

Performance Optimization

Modern warfare and weaponry present ever-evolving challenges to ballistic protection measures. Testing is vital to keeping armour wearers safe today but also plays a key role in helping to develop growing understandings of new methods that may better serve the purpose of protection and help to create new products that can withstand threats and give the wearer a competitive edge and peace of mind when it matters most. 

Reliability and Consistency:

Consistency is crucial in ballistic armour performance; every unit must perform as expected, every time. Testing ensures that each unit of armour adheres to the desired performance standards and delivers consistent protection across the board. To garner as much information as possible, each unit undergoes standardized testing designed to simulate real-life scenarios and potential threats that may be encountered by armour wearers. By subjecting units to proven test methods, manufacturers are able to present valid evidence that their materials perform as needed and that each unit is as reliable as possible.

In addition to consistency and reliability, armour testing helps to create a standard of trust and accountability among manufacturers and their end users. Given the extremely dangerous occupations that rely upon ballistic armour, this trust is paramount, and all necessary certifications must be obtained to ensure full compliance with all relevant standards.

Protection for End-Users:
Finally, where ballistic armour is deployed, the threat of serious bodily harm is real. In such applications, the margin for error is exceptionally low, and end users must be able to trust that their unit will perform as intended without any hindrance or additional risk. Ballistic armour testing, as with all forms of testing conducted by Biokinetics, is rooted in the science of safety, and a “passing grade” on such products is about far more than simply getting a stamp of approval from regulators.

At Biokinetics, we recognize the importance of having clear and transparent results that your team knows they can trust when they put their lives on the line. For over 45 years, we’ve proudly partnered with clients across Canada and North America to offer extensive testing and assessment services for ballistics armour testing, blunt force trauma testing, sports research, and more. Our team of industry-leading experts provides comprehensive results and transparent recommendations you can depend on when it matters most.

Contact Biokinetics today to learn more!