Engineer’s Idea Might Stick
Engineer Martin Martinez has received a $100,000 grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Advanced Research Projects Agency to study the feasibility of a proposed material that would immobilize vehicles being pursued by law-enforcement officials.
The new invention would use a sticky, web-like device to jam the moving parts of a vehicle’s underside, preventing the car from getting away while protecting its occupants, as well as those in the pursuing vehicle, from injury.
Martinez will use the grant to develop ideas for producing the material at his Engineering Science Analysis business over the next six months; if feasibility studies pan out, the company could receive an additional $750,000 grant to develop a prototype.
Engineering Science Analysis focuses on computer tests of how different stresses and pressures affect various substances, allowing for development of products whose performance is highly dependent on how they contact other objects.
The firm also examines products for design flaws and recommends solutions.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Arizona Republic (02/23/06) P. 3D; Jarman, Max .