Integrated helmet (fully equipped electronics) WIP

[Postal Recon]

Current Phase - Research and Planning


First, comes the concept! Woo....
The longest portion of this being the first step.
Where to start....
I like having the "full package" so to speak.
And I have been looking into making an armored suit for some time now. I was using the Quake 4 Marine Armor design in my quest as a basis....

Then I played Halo: Reach.

Woo boy do I love the customization in Reach.
Thats when I settled on making a Halo-esque suit. If you have read my bio on the "introduce yourself thread" you should know where I stand on my attention to fine details.
I decided to use my favorite helmet, the HAZ-OP. If anyone has constructed a EXTREMELY detailed HAZ-op. please PM or post photos.
Heres a Generic reference

Now, Going back to my BIO. I work in Naval Aviation as an Aviation Electrician's Mate. And my oh my do I have quite the work hour record in the cockpit of an H-60S.
Ive also looked in great detail at pilot's helmets, and into the future tech.
Ive also looked in extreme detail at some of the Star Wars armors, more in depth in the helmets. I like what the "bounty-Hunters" do with theirs, voice augmentation and all. Now mind you this is NOT my goal. (voice aug that is)
However comma. I do want to eventually make a suit with ballistics materials and be VERY practical in real world situations, a true bio-suit.
NOTE: NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DISCUSS BALLISTICS, Ill deal with that later, after I made a successful fitting Fiberglass, then Metal suit.

First dilemma, micro-filtration for CBR (chemical, biological, radiological) warfare.
I can remote a system to both sides of the ventilation on the HAZOP helm, I just need to find a micro system that would fit, anyone with this info, please post.

Now. Onto whats gonna be in this helm as a list.

~Closed system respiration (filtered as suggested above)
~Integrated communications system to include hearing protection over 82 db.
~GPS/compass navigation H.U.D. (they make this already for motorcycle helmets and dive masks)
~External voice amplification speaker (so you can hear what I say outside the helmet)
~Radio Communication (silent outside the helm)
~Cooling system for those hot days
~External Illumination (like S-117's helmets have all had)
~Internal Illumation (for when i want you to see my eyes)
~Data recording cam (battle helm cam if you will)
~Hydration port in face seal (like on our gas-masks)

All this with Limited neck seal and connected to the backplate via micro cable for power and data. (next project )
All while retaining comfort and epic look/feel.

Now I have a HUGE head. Im talking My military cover is size 7-3/4 and its still tight. So my helm will be made for 8-1/8 or just size 8 dome. So there should be ample room in the structure of the helmet.

Now, I know the direction I want to go with respiration. Just a matter of finding the "right" parts.

MiG Oxygen masks
~ ventilation tube comes off the left side of the face mask, while this could work to a great detail, usually oxy masks stick out a bit too far from the face
~Has internal microphone already installed
~pricey depending on condition

Respirators
~No integrated communications on a normal basis
~pricey when you do find them
~everywhere, and cheap normally
~intake ports on both sides of face.
~comfortable depending on manufacturer

Now if anyone has any experience, dont keep quiet!

Ok, I have the radio comms down, thats the easy part, same with illumination, ventilation and the "helmet battle cam"
I plan on installing this little bad boy here Coolest feature? Audio port, iPod anyone? lol, or the comms radio...either way.

link to the sale page
Now When I install this, ill do it similar to helicopter helmets. that is to say, the muffs will be attached physically to the helmet, and thus padded on the helmet side so that it can just "slip" on. Mind you chin-into face seal first, style of wearing.

I could go on FOREVER on how I would install them, but know the external stereo microphones will be able to pick up plenty of noise, and I know what im doing when it comes to the electronics portions of this

Thats about enough for now.
My current issues.
No printer, no experience making a helmet shell. (so pep isnt an option right now)
Im having a hard time with this site, the User interface is a bit whack in my humble opinion.
I have composites experience.

 

[kerbyg]

allow me.
so what youre asking for, in a sense, is this
hazza!

as i'm sure you already know about this, as you made a key to your enjoyment over the customization in reach.
your best bet is to take a front hose gas mask, and cut just the mouth area off, and figure a way to plant to the helmet, take a bit of whatever hosing you will need to connect to the breather on the helmet, and come up with a way to split it to two filters, and then create a cover for it all, to make it look like that. and i will promise you, your hazop helmet will have the envy of many

i also like that you are so keen on particular details. i'm the same way, my mkVI helmet is in the rough, but i plan to have near equal hopes for it as you do yours. my plan is make it as close to dot specifications as i can get with a mkVI (id have to take the bill off for it to be a motorcycle helmet like i originally wanted ),
but, i've been interested in the HUD idea, mainly for the purpose of a rear facing camera mounted inside the back of the helmet, thus, the ability to kill assassins when they try to sneak up behind you
also, the communications ideas you mentions seemed pretty epic in my terms, and similar to what i'm looking at doing, on a much more, well, civilian scale. don't get me wrong, i will die if you actually do what you're saying. but me, im just looking at getting a bluetooth headset, like one of the telemarketers wear, that has the head band, on ear headphone, and long, extended to the mouth, mic, putting it inside my helmet, and have it linked via bluetooth to my phone, that is conveniently located on my forearm thanks to my tacpad

but i cant wait to see how this is going to turn out.

 

[Vigilnt sniper]

The build looks good so far. lots of good ideas here. i am doing something similar with my suit im working on for one of my Active duty friends stationed in San Diego. Although i know it has been said before we dont sell armor on the main site. true there is a classifieds however you must be an Infantryman to see them. some people do contract work and for a price i would be more than willing to help. PM me if your interested.

Back to your build. there are a few ideas i have to slim down the overall size of the build. instead of using the huge muffs why dont you use something similar to this for the amplification to the outside of the helm.

http://salestores.com/ampliv77.html

it is smaller and would save lots of overall space. trust me with my build expirence with helmets there is little to no extra space in the helmet. you would not be able to get it on with those muffs. plus the speaker could be mounted in the chest and a jack ran down the back of your helm as you suggested.

the sealed breathing aparatus seems improbbable...... to large to fit inside....... you would have to build over a MiG mask instead of putting one inside....... you might be able to use the hazop attachments that can be seen on the odst helmet or something similar and have those be the filters as compared to having a Mig Mask. i see that working better than a full face sealed mask.

for the radio system something similar to a S.W.A.T tactical throat mic can be used. it would fit around the neck and would go under the helmet seal and still would provide the needed transfer of back and forth communication.

fans in the back would ruin the sealed helmet........ no ventilation if you want a sealed environment........ sorry.

integrated lighting is simple. some 3.5 leds and a 9 volt. boom done

the cam would be attached to the side? something similar to the cam attachment on the GUGNIR helm?

hydration port would be nice however it would ruin the look of the helm......... maybe a cammelback would work? something ran up your back and into the helmet? i see that working better.

just a few ideas..... tell me what you think....

 

[afa]

hey dude, love your idea, im doing one quite the same, other than the respirator, something a little different im doing is using 2 black and white low lux cameras and video glasses, low lux and ir leds for low light and night vision
that way you can project the huds and gps etc onto the view screens
oh yeah i was also wanting to throw a voice synth in there as well
how far along are you on this?

 

[Zat German]

If you want to scratch build it, this bike helmet might be a good start for your required helmet size. This thing is giant. I wear a 7 5/8 hat and it is way too big for me but it might be the right size for your requirements. You would obviously have to carve some of the foam off to get the right shape at both ends and fill in the holes(Foam-It 10 works well for me for filling bike helmet holes).

 

[Dh748]

Cool, glad THATS sorted out. . .

This would be an awesome Idea, I've seen people try to make something like this (Respirators, Communications Etc) but have never seen everything put into it. I REALLY hope you do it. It'd be cool for someone to do it.

 

[Walter Spase]

Welcome to the Forum Postal_Recon, good luck with you build. Your thread has been cleaned up and arguments removed. Lets everyone stick to the rules and get along.

 

[Shrubpig]

this sounds EPIC are you going to do a whole suit like this? if so, you could fit most of this bulk electronics in a place in the chestpiece.

 

[Excallibacca]

We were doing something similar, just not the filtration bit. I'll be subscriing and keeping an eye on this.

 

[Postal Recon]

I will edit the first post to state exactly what phase I am currently in on the build.

Look at this post's timestamp to get a late notice.

I am in RESEARCH phase of the build.
I still need to acquire some tools and equipment for this.
Now, As for "how much I can fit inside"
the things that can be applied to the helmets are only limited by our own creative potential.
mine just happens to be alot greater than most


A requirement for my posts is that you not only read them and truly understand them as you read them. You have to think 'outside' the box so to speak. If you payed close attention in detail to my comments about the headset, you would have noticed that i am removing the bulk of the material from the headset, not just that, but the entire headband is being eliminated.
thus creating a 'floating' mount for them. the following picture is one of me on deployment, out on the USNS Carl Brashear doing my "LSE" thing

As you can see, that headset on my head underneath my helmet is indeed a fully integraded stereo communications headset. The model sold for the gun market is not only fully capable, it is THINNER than what im wearing! a low profile headset would fit PERFECTLY in the side of the helmet, not to forget that i plan on shelling this in 2 ply carbon fiber for my final model
Cmon folks, i work in aerospace! The crap you see in movies I do for a job
I also have access to a PLETHORA of supplies, tools and knowledge. If it isnt my own, ill use it with permission

If you havent worn a properly sized 3M Half Face respirator, there is more than enough room left over afterwords to have a skin over it.
how thick yall making your helmets anyway!?
the mouth/nose seal provides padding as it stands, no need for additional!
the headset provides padding as well. i mean, shoot no need for extra ya hear!?
ok, now yall think im crazy by now, helo helmets are low pro, how? military grade, high impact "bubble wrap" (not the true definition, but thats what it looks like)
if its good enough in a helicopter crash, its good enough for my HAZOP >

one of you mentioned something to the effect of "sealed helmet isnt sealed with vents"
WRONG my good sir.
Your respiration is crucial to be sealed right?
you ever been diving?
you only have a mouth piece and mask, yet you are sealed from those elements, and can breath just fine.
now... why couldnt i have a nice "breeze" going across my head whilst using a micro-filtration unit?.... the answer boys and girls, is I CAN!

oh, and i will keep refering yall back to my first post in regards to further questions, its there. just look for it.
oh, and i have a huge head, JUST fits in an XL helm. and heres the better part.
im 6'1" and 250lbs of Scandinavian brute.
With a proper built suit and scaling done well...well... it will look perfect.
heres what most people get ahead of themselves with.
dont look at the helm separate.
your supposed to look like your dome is oversized with these helmets on.
thats why you have ARMOR to go with it, so that the rest of your scrawny body can match.
the armor and helm have to be scaled together.
thus they wont look bad.
an example of proper scaling is of course in the Nightmare Armor studios costumes.
granted they used platform boots and muscle suits, but i wont need that.. at least not that big of platform shoe
dont expect to see a truely complete helm for 6 months.


oh, and I do plan on doing much work to the breast and back plates.
I even have a theory of installing a micro-computer to do much more with a real custom built 'tac-pad' and not some i-phone either, we are talking real solid-state computers here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
been doing quite a bit of research into CBR filtration and powered air purifying filtration.
while both work.
do i want a hose off the helm?
no... sooo...
disect this CBR gas canister i have here, and make two filters and an adapter that would fit onto a "air intake" on the front of the mask to go with the CBRN addon like in reach?
I think thats the route im gonna go.
look on how stuff works website for how the filter works. I cant find the materials online due to their special purposes but i can get canisters that are still sealed...
I can even add layers... essentially "doubling" the filtration and lengthening the time one can use the canister and not inhale foul particles.

I think im gonna have the whole chin be where my speaker will be for my voice amplifier, and the vents be actual air vents. and when it comes time for the "CBRN", i can have it on my armor somewhere, hard mounted just waiting to be put on in case of emergency...
yess... i think this will work.
as for the camera and whatnot, the CMN-I addition to the helmet will do just fine (left side of helmet hardmount) for the camera.

Found what I will use for the H.U.D. I just have to find one for sale now :/
Heres a pic

Did some more looking, appears I can cheaply make my own system and display, meaning i can mount the hardware ANYWHERE, and route a cable to any display size of my choosing anywhere I want.
I just need to find a way to make the compass appear as it does in game :/
one long OLED display???? hmmm... perhaps a laser display????
lets stick with the basics for now... in the lower right hand corner of my helm


More to come as I devise my way through this project

 

[afa]

are you going to include any sort of digital displays in there, so you can integrate with more than just the built in tech? say bluetoothing to your iphone, or wirelessly hooking up to a gun?

 

[Postal Recon]

coupled with an on-board computer, the display could indeed provide feedback due to any input I desire. be it from RFID interface in the gauntlet to the gun, or through bluetooth to an android.

 

[afa]

nice, now for the video capture, are you just going to have, say, a helmet cam. the way im doing mine, you can only see through the display so it uses the optics as a constant feed from two sources

edit
another add on I was gonna do that you might want to, is for immediate area hearing, basically small mics that at a controlled volume (so it doesnt get too loud) let you listen around you as if you didnt have the helmet on, and im using the same speakers that are in use for my 2 way radio

 

[Postal Recon]

check out the link to the electronic headset i posted, its a talk-thru system, meaning stereo hearing from microphones on both "muffs"

as for video... I was thinking it record to an SD chip that you could remove from the helmet, and have a "read" port on the wrist that you could watch the playback on the display I spoke of.
As for the nightvision....
http://www.bushnell.com/products/other-products/night-vision/stealthview/260332/
nuff said there, already looks like it belongs on the helmet

almost forgot to add this...
The Nightvision module has a video output.
What does this mean?
Mounted onto the side of the helmet, the OLED display in the visor will be able to "playback" the output, giving the helmet nightvision capabilities...

 

[afa]

huh sounds like the expensive way of doing it but i dont doubt itll work

 

[Postal Recon]

huh sounds like the expensive way of doing it but i dont doubt itll work

actually all the components are really inexpensive. what makes it cost more is having someone else make it / buy it premade.

had another thought this morning.
OLED displays are made to be quite flexible and the "HUD" is across the entire visor.
sooo... get an oled wafer thin display to fit across the entire visor? that way it could be programmed to only activate the display in the desired regions. i just dont think they exist in the size required for an entire visor, maybe something small on the perimeter region?
yea.. i think that could work.

 

[Naughty Lemur]

It doesn't sound like an expensive way of doing it, the only way in comparison that its more expensive is a suit that doesn't have the cool gadgets and components. I like this idea that he has a lot, and If he has the moeny to do it all, the suit will be one of the most epic things I have ever seen

 

[Postal Recon]

It doesn't sound like an expensive way of doing it, the only way in comparison that its more expensive is a suit that doesn't have the cool gadgets and components. I like this idea that he has a lot, and If he has the moeny to do it all, the suit will be one of the most epic things I have ever seen

I have nothing but the full intention of completing this suit to proper aesthetics AND THEN SOME!
The suit in game is metal. And mine will have a metal skin in the end of course

 

[Postal Recon]

on a side note, i settled on what gloves i will be using for this armor

 

[Draakjuh]

Myleather.com will not ship without Valid Resellers Number and Minimum $400 Order

i almost clicked buy xD