NFL Selects 6D Helmets for Grant Award

BREA, CA - The team of Dynamic Research, Inc (DRI) of Torrance, CA and 6D Helmets LLC (6D) of Brea, CA will receive a grant award from the NFL’s Head Health Challenge III to assist with further development of Omni-Directional Suspension (ODS) for use in multi-impact helmets.

6D teamed with DRI to enter the Head Health Challenge III program. DRI is a leading research laboratory with extensive experience in helmet testing and applied vehicle safety. DRI will utilize advanced finite element analysis computer software to model different formulations of the ODS technology for use in multi-impact environments such as American Football, Hockey, and Lacrosse.

The team submitted an advanced ODS technology sample to HHC III for consideration into the award program. The sample was fabricated using multiple strategic materials in a configuration not found in traditional helmets and utilizing a revised version of the ODS technology. The team’s entry out-performed the vast majority of submissions to be selected for the award.

6D’s co-founder and CEO Bob Weber commented, “We are extremely excited to be selected for this award. We believe the capability of our ODS technology to isolate impact energy from the brain is second to none.” Co-founder and Engineering Director Robert Reisinger stated, “Our material sample met all the requirements of the challenge, and we are very excited by our test results. With DRI assisting with material analysis, I am confident we can provide an excellent solution and even better helmet design!” Dr. Terry Smith, Technical Director at DRI, said “Finite Element Analysis, or FEA, offers a tremendous opportunity to optimize the current ODS technology. With accurate material models, we can simulate numerous impacts in a short period of time and quickly identify the optimum design characteristics for any given impact situation.”

Omni-Directional Suspension is a multi-layer suspended internal liner assembly that allows the inner layer to displace independently of the outer layer in order to reduce the effects of both angular and linear acceleration forces acting upon the brain.

Five ground-breaking technologies were selected by the Head Health Challenge III awards committee out of over 125 individual entry submissions.