The U.S. Department of Defense wants electronic windows that resist heat, glare, and bullets
By Jeremy Hsu Posted 09.11.2009 at 2:56 pm 5 Comments

Rolls Royce Phantom The next-gen windows will block out bullets, too Sean Lamonby (CC licensed)

A good bullet-resistant ride can do the trick for most VIPs, leaving aside physics-defying assassins and impossible curving bullets. But the U.S. Department of Defense also wants controllable protection against the sun's vicious ultraviolet rays, not to mention prying eyes and sniper scopes.

The DOD has awarded a $425,000 contract to GKN Aerospace for a product that embeds electronically dimming films within armored glass. Such a "SmartShade" would help hide VIPs riding inside armored vehicles.

Related Articles

Smart Windows Finally Coming?
New Army Rifle Fires Laser-Guided Smart Bullets With Onboard Targeting Chips
The Breakdown: Can YOU Bend a Bullet?

Tags

Science, Jeremy Hsu, auto news, bulletproof, bullets, cars, dimmer, limousines, shade, windows
SmartShade would take a cue from a SPD-SmartGlass technology licensed from Research Frontiers, Inc. A dimmer button would provide on-demand light control, privacy, and protection from the outside world.

"This new development will have its initial application in the global counter-terrorism market for government VIP Armored Personnel Vehicles but also has real value in the civilian VIP market," said William Fischer, vice-president of technology at UK-based GKN Aerospace.

The main challenge here lies in embedding the SmartGlass technology in armored windows, and then ensuring that the windows hold up to "extreme environmental conditions" as well as "stringent ballistic testing."

GKN previously designed the windows for Boeing's Dreamliner passenger jet.

[via CNET]

Want to learn more about breakthroughs in electronics, medicine, nanotech, and more?
Subscribe to Popular Science today, for less than $1 per issue!

5 Comments

Link to this comment
extremechiton
09/11/09 at 6:33 pm

in addition to bulletproofed windows, these should be integrated into homewindos to replace curtais.

Link to this comment
Cookiees453
09/11/09 at 9:46 pm

They wouldn't need this if we could just make Transporters and or shuttle craft like in Star Trek! LoL

Link to this comment
Blogengeezer
09/12/09 at 5:00 am

Shows how absolute hatred of ever more Powerful Government over all, is growing. The open days of the past with its limited Government, are gone now....Pity.

Link to this comment
TechnoFreakFace
09/13/09 at 8:57 am

lol yea....good times (back then i mean)

Link to this comment
ocalansacide
10/29/10 at 6:56 am

President Hamid Karzai, accompanied by NATO officials and top US diplomats, travelled to the volatile region at least three times since June to urge support for the operation
www.prefabrik.com


138 years of Popular Science at your fingertips.

Innovation Challenges

Make your ideas part of the revolution
Learn morePowered by Innocentive



Popular Science+ For iPad

Each issue has been completely reimagined for your iPad. See our amazing new vision for magazines that goes far beyond the printed page



Download Our App

Stay up to date on the latest news of the future of science and technology from your iPhone or Android phone with full articles, images and offline viewing



Follow Us On Twitter

Featuring every article from the magazine and website, plus links from around the Web. Also see our PopSci DIY feed


February 2012: The Future of Fun

Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?


circ-top-header.gif
circ-cover.gif