Strobe LEDs for Ballistics Research Net Metaphase $250K Army Contract

The U.S. Army has awarded Metaphase Technologies Inc. a $250,000 contract to develop and manufacture advanced high-speed LED strobed illumination equipment for ballistics research.

The equipment will be used by the Army Test Center and Army Research Lab in Aberdeen, Md.

Metaphase's HiSLED high-speed LED system can capture nanosecond strobed snapshots of bullets traveling at speeds exceeding 3000 ft/s (2000 mph).

Bullets typically don't travel a straight line to the target due to rotational forces. This travel pattern has a significant impact on the injury pattern created when a bullet hits its target. The HiSLED system will provide Army researchers with information on bullets' in-air pitch and yaw as they travel towards their target. This information will be used to improve the design of firearms and combat armor.

Founded in 1993, Metaphase designs and manufactures LED illumination systems for machine vision and other applications.