Soldiers working in the field of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) wear cumbersome personal protective equipment (PPE) that may affect their performance in the field, limit their mobility, and cause discomfort. The objective of this study was to develop a test methodology to identify the relationship between EOD suit interface loads and mission-critical performance metrics. The physical interactions between an EOD suit and human subjects were monitored using a distributed pressure sensor network to investigate the interface load distribution during EOD-related physical positions and activities. More specifically, a Med-Eng brand Model EOD 8 suit was utilized to evaluate shoulder discomfort and leg mobility restriction. Thirty-four college aged adults of varying athletic abilities completed a test course and walked on a treadmill for 2 min while wearing the EOD 8. Demographic information was collected before testing via a survey and qualitative observations were collected at the end of testing with a questionnaire. After each test course repetition, participants ranked their perceived exertion using the Borg scale. Overall, the time it took participants to complete the test course increased by 17% and participants experienced a 60% increase in perceived exertion while wearing the EOD 8. The region that experienced the most pain and discomfort was the top of the shoulders (59%) and there was a negative correlation (r = − 0.5, p < 0.05) between participants’ body mass index (BMI) and the max shoulder pressure. The groin protector was found to restrict hip rotation when the subject squatted to pick up an object, producing a pressure 30-times higher than without the EOD 8. These results suggest that a range of motion evaluation method for EOD suits and other protective ensemble can be successfully developed using a combination of user feedback and strategically placed pressure sensors. This study implements the largest pressure region ever recorded on the human body and is the first of its kind to investigate the movement restriction of PPE for various practical tasks.

在爆炸物处理（EOD）领域工作的士兵穿着笨重的个人防护设备（PPE），这可能会影响他们在该领域的表现，限制其机动性并引起不适。这项研究的目的是开发一种测试方法，以识别EOD套装界面负载和关键任务性能指标之间的关系。使用分布式压力传感器网络监控EOD服与人类受试者之间的物理相互作用，以调查EOD相关的身体位置和活动过程中的界面负荷分布。更具体地说，使用Med-Eng品牌的EOD 8型套装来评估肩膀不适和腿部活动受限。三十四名运动能力各异的大学生完成了一个测试课程，并穿着EOD 8在跑步机上行走了2分钟。在调查前通过调查收集了人口统计学信息，并在调查结束时通过问卷调查了定性观察。每次测试课程重复后，参与者使用Borg量表对他们的感知努力进行排名。总体而言，参加EOD 8时，参与者完成测试过程所花费的时间增加了17％，并且参与者的感知劳累增加了60％。遭受疼痛和不适最多的区域是肩膀顶部（59％） ），参与者的体重指数（BMI）与最大肩膀压力之间存在负相关（r = − 0.5，p <0.05）。人们发现，当受试者蹲下捡起物体时，腹股沟保护器会限制髋关节旋转，产生的压力比没有EOD 8时高30倍。这些结果表明，针对EOD服和其他保护性套装的一系列运动评估方法可以通过结合用户反馈和策略性放置的压力传感器来成功开发。这项研究实现了有记录在人体上的最大压力区域，并且是针对各种实际任务研究PPE的运动限制的同类研究中的第一个。这些结果表明，结合用户反馈和策略性放置的压力传感器，可以成功开发出一系列针对EOD服和其他防护服的运动评估方法。这项研究实现了有记录在人体上的最大压力区域，并且是针对各种实际任务研究PPE的运动限制的同类研究中的第一个。这些结果表明，结合用户反馈和策略性放置的压力传感器，可以成功开发出一系列针对EOD服和其他防护服的运动评估方法。这项研究实现了有记录在人体上的最大压力区域，并且是针对各种实际任务研究PPE的运动限制的同类研究中的第一个。