Engineers built a folding shield that can stop a bullet

Chances are you’ve never folded an origami swan with thoughts that it could save your life. Engineers at Brigham Young University did — well, kind of. It’s not a swan, but the inspiration is hard to miss.

BYU’s origami shield tips the scales at only 55 pounds. Ultra portable, the suitcase-sized device expands with a unique folding mechanism. It’s not nothing, but engineers say common ballistic barriers weigh in at up to 100 pounds. Reinforcing the barrier’s 12 layers of Kevlar with an aluminum frame rather than steel significantly lightened the load.

Once deployed, it’s capable of shielding two to three officers and stopping bullets from most hand guns. It’s effective, but far from a one-size-fits-all solution.

Still, BYU’s team feels its foldable ballistic barrier would be a welcome addition to any squad car.

via The Verge