DEF+4 : Utveckling av ett multispektralt portabelt skyddssystem.

Sammanfattning

Drones have become an increasingly common threat in modern conflict and crisis zones. They are used not only for reconnaissance and surveillance, but also to carry and deploy explosive payloads as well as to identify individuals through visible light, near-infrared light, and thermal sensors. This creates a growing need for protective solutions aimed at civilian actors such as rescue personnel, paramedics, and humanitarian organizations, particularly since many existing military protection systems are too heavy, costly, or difficult to use in the field. The purpose of this thesis was to develop a portable and user-friendly protection system capable of reducing exposure to drone-based threats. The goal was to produce a functional prototype combining simple mechanics, camouflage, and protective material layers in a solution that can be rapidly deployed and used in the field. The work was carried out using a hybrid model in which Stanford Design Thinking was combined with agile project management. Methods included a pre-study, expert interviews in the fields of defense technology, optics for multispectral observation, and textile materials, concept development, material testing, and physical prototype development and evaluation in multispectral imaging. The result is DEF+4, a portable functional prototype based on a modified umbrella mechanism with multiple protective material layers, adapted for two background environments: Swedish forest vegetation and urban environments. The prototype is designed to be carried, rapidly deployed, and provides a combination of visual, near infrared camouflage, and thermal signature reduction as well as basic weather protection. Tests showed that the green camouflage material performed best in Swedish forest environments, while the stone pattern camouflage was more suitable in grey and urban environments. Near-infrared testing demonstrated that materials can’t be selected based solely on their appearance in visible light. Thermal tests showed that the camouflage layer reduced the direct heat contrast between the user and the surrounding environment but could not fully eliminate the thermal signature within a given timeframe. The project demonstrates that DEF+4 has potential as a simple, portable, and passive protection concept for civilian users in high-risk environments. In this project, multispectral concealment was prioritized over ballistic protection, based on the principle that a threat unable to detect its target cannot engage it. Fragmentation protection has therefore only been addressed theoretically and requires verification through more systematic testing with relevant protective materials, such as UHMWPE- or Dyneema-based fabrics. The conclusion is that DEF+4 partially fulfills the goal of producing a functional and testable prototype, but that further development is required before the concept can be evaluated as a complete protection system.