Articulation system for a flash fire manikin

A dynamic motion flash fire instrumented manikin test system for simulation of a flash fire comprising:

• an instrumented manikin comprising a heat-resistant material and a plurality of limbs;
• an articulation system comprising a plurality of articulating rods, at least one electric motor, and at least one controller;
• at least one flame generation component designed to generate a flash fire;
• at least one data acquisition component;
• and
• at least one sensor;
• wherein the instrumented manikin is operable to simulate dynamic movement, wherein the dynamic movement includes a pumping action of walking or running;
• wherein the plurality of limbs is connected to the articulation system via the plurality of articulating rods, wherein the at least one electric motor is operable to drive the plurality of articulating rods to simulate the dynamic movement;
• wherein the at least one controller is operable to move the plurality of limbs for a predetermined time period, wherein the predetermined time period includes a time before activation of the at least one flame generation component, a time during activation of the at least one flame generation component, and a time after activation of the at least one flame generation component;
• and
• wherein the at least one sensor is operable to capture heat data, wherein the heat data includes temperature, heat flux, and heat distribution generated by the at least one flame generation component;
• wherein the heat data further includes temperature, heat flux, and heat distribution near the instrumented manikin, wherein the heat data further includes temperature, heat flux, and heat distribution on an external surface of the instrumented manikin, wherein the at least one sensor is in network communication with the at least one data acquisition component, wherein the at least one data acquisition component is designed to receive the heat data from the at least one sensor, wherein the at least one data acquisition component is operable to determine at least one effect of the heat generated by the at least one flame generation component on the instrumented manikin.

A method of performing flash fire testing on an instrumented manikin system comprising:

• selecting a testing standard, wherein the testing standard includes a heat flux requirement, a flame distribution requirement, and a flame duration requirement;
• positioning, via an articulation system, at least two limbs of a plurality of limbs of an instrumented manikin based on the selected testing standard, wherein the articulation system comprises a plurality of articulation components, at least one electric motor, and at least one controller;
• activating at least one flame generation component based on the selected testing standard;
• moving, via the articulation system, the instrumented manikin in a dynamic motion for at least the flame duration requirement, wherein the dynamic motion includes walking or running;
• collecting, via at least one sensor, heat data corresponding to the at least one flame generation component and the instrumented manikin, wherein the heat data includes temperature and heat flux;
• deactivating the at least one flame generation component based on the selected testing standard;
• collecting, via the at least one sensor, heat data corresponding to an external surface of the instrumented manikin after the deactivation of the at least one flame generation component;
• and
• determining, via at least one data acquisition component, a burn level based on the heat data after the activation of the at least one flame generation component and the heat data after the deactivation of the at least one flame generation component, wherein the burn level includes a first-degree burn, a second-degree burn, and/or a third-degree burn.