Adelaide T&E Systems
 

Development and Manufacture of Surrogate Models for Media Programs

 

The key personnel at Adelaide T&E Systems have years of experience in creating frangible (breakable) anatomical models for documentaries and other media projects (military training videos). These models are usually destructively tested to provide unsurpassed visual and scientific evidence of the effects of damaging loading to the human or animal body. Adelaide T&E Systems also has a range of advanced reusable models already in use or in development (military) that can survive extreme environments in order to demonstrate, through advanced instrumentation techniques, the effects of injury on any biological entity.

Whilst some of our standard products can be used (sometimes with modifications) to accurately demonstrate physical interactions, the diverse team at Adelaide T&E Systems is well placed to rapidly design and manufacture models to a client’s specification. This was the case with the most recent project we’ve undertaken where a Frangible Ballistic Head (FBH) was created from anatomical dimensions provided by the client to demonstrate the terminal effects of ballistic impact, thereby allowing for a routine forensic ballistic investigation to be performed on the residues left at the scene in order to prove or disprove the likelihood of a particular theory.

Our product performance results from many years of research into human surrogate tissues and their response, especially high strain-rate loading. Our clients can confidently rely on receiving surrogates engineered using the same research principles that have resulted in the Frangible Surrogate Leg (FSL) being recognised by NATO as a standard proofing tool for measuring the traumatic effects of landmines.

Key personnel at Adelaide T&E Systems have performed numerous on-camera roles (both locally and overseas), explaining surrogate technology, our research, design principles, manufacturing processes and capabilities.  Our on-camera involvement can significantly enhance and add scientific credibility to any project being undertaken

 
JFK: Inside the Target Car (2008)

Title: JFK: Inside the Target Car (2008)

Studio: Discovery Communications Inc.

Director: Robert Erickson

Production Company: Creative Differences

Details: This program used Adelaide T&E Systems’ new product, the Frangible Ballistic Head (FBH), to replicate (in a terminal ballistics manner) the head of JFK in order to examine the plausibility of the assassin being positioned either on the grassy knoll or in the Texas School Book Depository Building. Filming of the testing content took place in California.

Unsolved History: JFK ~ Beyond the Magic Bullet (2004)

Title: Unsolved History: JFK ~ Beyond the Magic Bullet (2004)

Studio: Discovery Communications Inc.

Director: Robert Erickson

Production Company: Creative Differences

Details: This program used a number of ballistic gelatine blocks produced to the current FBI standard (some including surrogate skin, suspended bone and connective tissues) and complete torso models manufactured to the anatomical dimensions of President John F. Kennedy and Texas Gov. John Connolly in order to demonstrate the path of the so called ‘magic bullet’ that supposedly caused 7 wounds in two bodies. Filming of the testing content took place in Australia.

Dr Alex Krstic was employed as a ballistics specialist and expert marksman within the program.

Unsolved History: JFK ~ Beyond the Magic Bullet (2004)
Unsolved History: Aztec Temple of Blood (2004)

Title: Unsolved History: Aztec Temple of Blood (2004)

Studio: Discovery Communications Inc.

Director: Dan Levitt

Producer: Dave Harding

Production Company: Creative Differences

Details: This program used a custom built chest and abdominal surrogate with organs ‘in-situ’ and an eminent surgeon to investigate how long it would take to extract a human heart during a traditional Aztec sacrifice and thereby determine the plausibility of 20,000 prisoners being sacrificed in 4 days………during daylight hours only. Filming of the testing content took place in California.

Anatomy of a Shark Bite (2003)

Title: Anatomy of a Shark Bite (2003)

Studio: Discovery Communications Inc.

Director: James Younger

Production Company: Creative Differences, Termite Art Productions

Details: This program used the Frangible Surrogate Leg (FSL) to recreate the injury characteristics of actual shark bites on the human lower limb with the survivors present during the testing and commenting on the results. Filming of the testing content took place in California.

Anatomy of a Shark Bite (2003)
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