Our seven person capstone team worked with Mobile Virtual Player (MVP) to develop an omni-directional bullet detection system to help create a safer and more realistic training environment for live-fire military training scenarios. Over 6 months our team developed a highly mobile three-dimensional target system that gives instant feedback and prompts fast decision making. Our deliverables consisted of: an omni-directional bullet detection system, PCB, mechanical actuator, and iOS application.

Our final design had greater than 98% detection accuracy for bullets (.223 to .50 caliber) and had a lifespan of over 1000 rounds of live ammunition from any direction. The PCB design and iOS application enabled the dummy to have regional detection (fringe, body, and critical zones). The Swift / Xcode based app communicates with the PCB to maintain a live hit count along with allowing instructors to set criteria during target training such as certain hit combinations before the mechanical actuator engages (ex: two shots to the body and one to the critical; ten shots total prior to falling over).

In the midst of our design work, MVP came to us and said, “Oh, by the way, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do a demonstration of our technology at a Special Forces test range in Nevada in January.” That was 13 weeks before our original deadline. If that didn’t prepare me for the working world….I don’t know what will. Despite this additional challenge, our team not only met our goal but also received ‘The Dartmouth Society of Engineers Prize’ for the best capstone design project. And at the end of the project, a patent application was filed for the technology, with all seven of us as co-inventors.

And the latest development is that MVP has recently been awarded a research contract by the Department of Defense for further development of Tactical MVP. Tactical MVP has also been invited to three additional Special Forces showcases since our January premiere.

Tackling this disruptive mechanical design challenge with my team and seeing it through to fruition remains the most rewarding project I’ve worked on at Thayer. I look forward to the next challenge me and a future team tackle.
(MVP Website Link)

Below is a teaser video featuring the newest foam torso.

You may recognize MVP’s football tackling dummy from The Ellen Show, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, BuzzFeed, or Super Bowl .