US20240360600A1

US20240360600A1 - Fabric and Lattice for Locating Damage

Info

Publication number: US20240360600A1
Application number: US18/309,160
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathan Taylor Schinowsky
Original assignee: US Department of Navy
Current assignee: US Department of Navy
Priority date: 2023-04-28
Filing date: 2023-04-28
Publication date: 2024-10-31

Abstract

A fabric or lattice for locating a damage, including a puncture, includes one or more layers and a continuity tester. Each of the layers includes conductive filaments and insulating filaments. The conductive filaments are spaced apart within each layer of the fabric. The insulating filaments are distributed across the conductive filaments within each layer of the fabric. The insulating filaments adhere the conductive filaments together to form each layer of the fabric, yet separate the conductive filaments and electrically insulate the conductive filaments from each other. The continuity tester checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments of each of the layers. The continuity tester identifies any one or ones of the conductive filaments exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.

Description

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The United States Government has ownership rights in this invention. Licensing and technical inquiries may be directed to the Office of Research and Technical Applications, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, Code 72120, San Diego, CA, 92152; voice (619) 553-5118; NIWC_Pacific_T2@us.navy.mil. Reference Navy Case Number 210885.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A common application of unmanned systems involve their deployment and operations in environments, tasks, or circumstances that are hazardous for their human counterparts. At present, information regarding the status and condition of an unmanned system is for the most part unknown to the user unless the unmanned system incorporate sensors commonly used for situational awareness, such as cameras. Otherwise, the user only begins to identify complications as portions of the unmanned system begin failing. Additionally, damage to an unmanned system is usually assessed by physical inspection after the unmanned system has returned to the user or a field technician. Ultimately, it is not plausible and is arguably inadequate to use current methods to provide real-time damage assessment of many unmanned systems because the available information is insufficient for most scenarios and use cases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Throughout the several views, like elements are referenced using like references. The elements in the figures are not drawn to scale and some dimensions are exaggerated for clarity.

FIG. 1 is a fabric for locating damage including a puncture through the fabric in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a fabric for locating damage including a puncture through the fabric in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a lattice for locating damage including an example puncture through the lattice in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fabric for locating damage that determines a trajectory of a projectile causing an example puncture through the fabric in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed systems and methods below may be described generally, as well as in terms of specific examples and/or specific embodiments. For instances where references are made to detailed examples and/or embodiments, it should be appreciated that any of the underlying principles described are not to be limited to a single embodiment, but may be expanded for use with any of the other systems and methods described herein as will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art unless otherwise stated specifically.
The inventor has discovered a real-time feedback system that keeps a user apprised of the status and condition of an unmanned system. Analysis of the feedback provides a threat assessment for the unmanned system. The feedback system is integrated into a fabric, which envelops the unmanned system or is deployed on a portion of the unmanned system that is expected to receive significant strain or expected to become exposed to damage, such as directly embedding the fabric in a glacis plate. The real-time feedback potentially covers a more extensive area, enabling non-traditional coverage that provides previously unobtainable information, situational awareness, and insight regarding the unmanned system and its environment. The approach collects information primarily concerning actual structural damage, unlike existing systems, such as cameras, whose primary function is typically visual navigation. The collected information regarding structural damage entails significantly less data than that of existing systems, such as live video, making dissemination and communication of the collected information more manageable.
The fabric includes a single layer or multiple layers, each layer including conductive filaments that identify the position of any damage severing certain of the conductive filaments and hence creating an open circuit through the severed conductive filaments. As the number of layers is scaled in height, the fabric identifies damage with increased accuracy, including determining the trajectory of a projectile causing the damage and even the type of projectile. Additive manufacturing readily creates the fabric with a pattern of alternating conductive filaments and insulating filaments.
FIG. 1 is a fabric 100 for locating damage including a puncture through the fabric 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
The fabric 100 includes conductive filaments 110 and insulating filaments, such as insulating filament 120. The conductive filaments 110 are spaced apart within a layer 101 of the fabric. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 are distributed across the conductive filaments 110 within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 adhere the conductive filaments 110 together to form the layer 101 of the fabric 100. Yet the insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 separate the conductive filaments 110 and electrically insulate the conductive filaments 110 from each other.
A continuity tester checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments 110. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 , the continuity tester includes pull-up resistors 130 applying a power supply voltage to the respective first end 111 of each of the conductive filaments 110 and resistive loads 131 applying a ground voltage to the respective second end 112 of each of the conductive filaments 110. Typically, each of the resistive loads 131 has a resistance greater than an expected resistance of each of the conductive filaments 110. The continuity tester confirms the electrical continuity upon the respective second end 112 of the conductive filaments 110 having a voltage greater than a threshold voltage. Because no damage is shown in FIG. 1 , electrical continuity is confirmed for all of the conductive filaments 110. The continuity tester identifies the loss of the electrical continuity upon the respective second end 112 having a voltage less than the threshold voltage. The continuity tester also includes a parallel-in serial-out shift register 132 coupled to the respective second end 112 of each of the conductive filaments 110. The parallel-in serial-out shift register 132 captures, in parallel, the electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments 110. The parallel-in serial-out shift register 132 serially identifies any of the conductive filaments 110 exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.
It will be appreciated that the power supply voltages can be reversed at the pull-up resistors 130 and the resistive loads 131, and that the resistance values of the pull-up resistors 130 and the resistive loads 131 can vary. In one example, the pull-up resistors 130 are omitted with the respective second end 111 of each of the conductive filaments 110 connected directly to the power supply voltage. However, the pull-up resistors 130 are preferably included to limit the current draw from the power supply during a short-circuit condition potentially caused by the damage to the fabric 100. In another example, separate resistive loads 131 are omitted because the parallel-in serial-out shift register 132 possesses sufficient input resistance.
In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 , the conductive filaments 110 and the insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 are interleaved within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. In this embodiment, the conductive filaments 110 are approximately parallel within the layer 101 of the fabric 100, and the insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 are approximately parallel within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. Furthermore in this embodiment, the conductive filaments 110 and the insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 are all approximately parallel within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. In this embodiment, the conductive filaments 110 are spaced apart approximately uniformly within the layer of the fabric. As used in the specification and claims, approximately parallel is defined to mean within 20 degrees of parallel and spaced apart approximately uniformly is defined to mean spacing varying by at most 20 percent.
The embodiment of FIG. 1 shows two insulating filaments separating adjacent conductive filaments 110 in a top sublayer of layer 101, and a bottom sublayer of all insulating filaments in the layer 101. However, the ratio of conductive filaments 110 to the insulating filaments varies in embodiments of the invention to vary the precision of locating identified damage.
In general, the fabric 100 for locating damage includes one or more layers with each layer 101 including conductive filaments 110 and insulating filaments, such as insulating filament 120. The fabric 100 also includes a continuity tester. The conductive filaments 110 are spaced apart within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 are distributed across the conductive filaments 110 within the layer 101 of the fabric 100. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 120 adhere the conductive filaments 110 together to form the layer 101 of the fabric 100, yet separate the conductive filaments 110 and electrically insulate the conductive filaments 110 from each other. The continuity tester for checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments 110 of each layer 101. The continuity tester identifies any one or ones of the conductive filaments 110 of the layers exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.
FIG. 2 is a fabric 200 for locating damage including a puncture through the fabric 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
The fabric 200 includes one or more layers with each layer 205 including conductive filaments 210 and insulating filaments, such as insulating filament 220. The fabric 200 also includes a continuity tester 230. The conductive filaments 210 are spaced apart within the layer 205 of the fabric 200. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 220 are distributed across the conductive filaments 210 within the layer 205 of the fabric 200. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 220 adhere the conductive filaments 210 together to form the layer 205 of the fabric 200, yet separate the conductive filaments 210 and electrically insulate the conductive filaments 210 from each other. The continuity tester 230 checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments 210 of each layer 205. The continuity tester 230 identifies any one or ones of the conductive filaments 210 of the layers exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.
In the embodiment of FIG. 2 , the fabric 200 is rectangular with a first edge 201, a second edge 202, a third edge 203, and a fourth edge 204 in that order around a periphery of the rectangular fabric 200. Within the layer 205 of the fabric 200, each of the conductive filaments 210 spans from a first end at the first edge 201 to nearby the third edge 203, makes a U turn, and spans back from nearby the third edge 203 to a second end at the first edge 201. The continuity tester 230 is electrically coupled to the first and second ends of each of the conductive filaments 210 at the first edge 201 of the rectangular fabric 200.
The continuity tester 230 is shown with bidirectional drivers for the first and second ends of the conductive filaments 210. Such bidirectional drivers enable collection of more information about the damage when the damage causes shorting between the conductive filaments 210. For example, the continuity tester 230 successively scans through the conductive filaments 210 with the first end of each of the conductive filaments 210 strongly driven high while driving the first end of the other conductive filaments 210 and the second end of all of the conductive filaments 210 weakly low. The continuity tester 230 confirms the expected electrical continuity upon observing the second end of only the appropriate one of the conductive filaments 210 is driven high, while both ends of the other conductive filaments 210 are observed driven low. This is repeated with the continuity tester 230 driving the second end of each successive one of the conductive filaments 210 strongly high, while driving all the other ends of the conductive filaments 210 weakly low. The continuity tester 230 detects shorting between the conductive filaments 210 when one or both ends of multiple ones of the conductive filaments 210 are observed driven high.
In one embodiment, the conductive filaments 210 and the insulating filaments including insulating filament 220 are woven together to form the layer 205 that is flexible. In another preferred embodiment, the conductive filaments 210 and the insulating filaments including insulating filament 220 are adhered together without weaving to form the layer 205 of the fabric 200. For example, the fabric 200 is a rigid fabric generated by 3D printing the conductive filaments 210 with a conductive polymer and 3D printing the insulating filaments including insulating filament 220 with an insulating polymer. Such 3D printing readily forms the U turn in the conductive filaments 210 at the third edge 203. Such additive manufacturing can also print scaffolding later discarded or dissolved to support 3D printing a fabric 200 having a curved surface or multiple conjoined curved surfaces. In a preferred embodiment, the rigid fabric 200 is somewhat brittle so that the damage causes fracturing of the rigid brittle fabric 200 to reduce the possibility that the damage causes electrical shorting between the conductive filaments 210. In one embodiment, the fabric 200 is rigid plates attached to an unmanned system, allowing replacement of the rigid plates following damage to the fabric 200.
FIG. 3 is a lattice 300 for locating damage including an example puncture 340 through the lattice 300 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A lattice 300 is a type of fabric having multiple layers 301 and 302 each including conductive filaments. The layer 301 includes conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315, and the layer 302 includes conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325. In a typical embodiment, the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 of layer 301 cross approximately perpendicular to the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 of layer 302. As used in the specification and claims, approximately perpendicular is defined to mean within 20 degrees of perpendicular.
The lattice 300 includes conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 that are spaced apart within the first layer 301 of the lattice 300. Insulating filaments including insulating filament 318 are distributed across the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 within the first layer 301 of the lattice 300. The insulating filaments including insulating filament 318 adhere the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 together to form the first layer 301 of the lattice 300, yet separate the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 and electrically insulate the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 from each other. The lattice 300 includes conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 that are spaced apart within a second layer 302 of the lattice 300. Insulating filaments including insulating filament 328 are distributed across the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 within the second layer 302 of the lattice 300. Insulating filaments including insulating filament 328 adhere the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 together to form the second layer 302 of the lattice 300, yet separate the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 and electrically insulate the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 from each other.
A continuity tester (not shown) checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 and the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325. The continuity tester identifies any one or ones of the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 and the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage. In the embodiment of FIG. 3 with example puncture 340, the continuity tester identifies the conductive filaments 312, 322, and 323 exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the example puncture 340 through the fabric of lattice 300. Note that although the example puncture 340 includes a notch 341 in conductive filament 311, this notch 341 does not sever the conductive filament 311 and hence conductive filament 311 does not exhibit a loss of the electrical continuity. However, in one embodiment, the continuity tester identifies an increase in resistance of the conductive filament 311 resulting from a notch 341 that nearly severs the conductive filament 311.
In one embodiment, the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 are approximately parallel along a first direction within the first layer 301 of the lattice 300, and the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 are approximately parallel along a second direction within the second layer 302 of the lattice 300. The first and second directions are approximately perpendicular within the lattice 300. The continuity tester identifies coordinates of the example puncture 340 through the lattice 300 when the conductive filaments include a conductive filament 312 or conductive filaments of the first layer 301 exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity and a conductive filament or conductive filaments 322 and 323 of the second layer 302 exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity. The continuity tester identifies the coordinates of the example puncture 340 in the first and second directions as the intersection of a coordinate of the conductive filament 312 and a respective coordinate of the conductive filaments 322 and 323.
In one embodiment, the conductive filaments 311, 312, 313, 314, and 315 and the conductive filaments 321, 322, 323, 324, and 325 cross approximately perpendicular within the lattice 300. The continuity tester identifies at least one coordinate of the example puncture 340 through the lattice 300 from one or more of the conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the example puncture 340 through the lattice 300.
FIG. 4 is a fabric 400 for locating damage in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The fabric 400 determines a trajectory 481 of a projectile causing an example puncture 480 through the fabric 400. When the fabric 400 includes multiple layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406 with crossing conductive filaments as shown in FIG. 4 , the fabric 400 is a lattice.
The fabric 400 for locating a damage including the example puncture 480 through the fabric 400 includes one or more layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406. Each of the layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, or 406 includes conductive filaments and insulating filaments. The conductive filaments (shown in lighter shading) of each of the layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406 are spaced apart within that layer of the fabric 400. The insulating filaments (shown in darker shading) of each layer are distributed across the conductive filaments within the layer of the fabric 400. The insulating filaments of each layer adhere the conductive filaments of the layer together to form the layer of the fabric 400, yet separate the conductive filaments of the layer and electrically insulate these conductive filaments from each other. A continuity tester (not shown) checks for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments of each of the layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406. The continuity tester identifies any one or ones of the conductive filaments of each of the layers 401, 402, 403, 404, 405, and 406 exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.
As shown for the example puncture 480 of FIG. 4 , the example puncture 480 severs conductive filament 411 of layer 401, severs no conductive filament of layer 402, severs conductive filament 431 of layer 403, severs conductive filament 443 of layer 404, severs conductive filament 451 of layer 405, and severs conductive filament 462 of layer 406. Thus, conductive filaments 411, 431, 443, 451, and 462 exhibit the loss of electrical continuity due to the example puncture 480 through the fabric 400.
Because the conductive filaments of the third layer 403 and the conductive filaments of the fourth layer 404 cross approximately perpendicular within the fabric 400, the continuity tester identifies a first pair of coordinates of the example puncture 480 as the intersection of a coordinate of the conductive filament 431 and a coordinate of the conductive filament 443. Similarly, because the conductive filaments of the fifth layer 405 and the conductive filaments of the sixth layer 406 cross approximately perpendicular within the fabric 400, the continuity tester identifies a second pair of coordinates of the example puncture 480 as the intersection of a coordinate of the conductive filament 451 and a coordinate of the conductive filament 462. The line through the first pair of coordinates and second pair of coordinates gives the trajectory 481 of the projectile.
Alternatively, a linear regression of the (y, z) coordinates of the severed conductive filaments 411, 431, and 451 gives a partial trajectory for trajectory 481, and a linear regression of the (x, z) coordinates of the severed conductive filaments 443 and 462 gives a partial trajectory for trajectory 481. The combination of these two partial trajectories fully specifies the trajectory 481, although ambiguity might remain for whether the path of the trajectory 481 enters the fabric 400 from above as shown in FIG. 4 , or enters the fabric 400 from below. The correlation coefficient from each linear regression together specify a confidence that the trajectory 481 is a linear trajectory. It will be appreciated that the trajectory 481 can be determined with a single linear regression in three dimensions x, y, and z.
In one embodiment, the conductive filaments of the first layer 401, the third layer 403, and the fifth layer 405 are approximately parallel along a first direction within these layers of the fabric 400. The conductive filaments of the second layer 402, the fourth layer 404, and the sixth layer 406 are approximately parallel along a second direction within these layers of the fabric 400. The first and second directions are approximately perpendicular within the fabric 400. The continuity tester identifies various coordinates in the first and second directions of the example puncture 480 through the fabric 400 and a trajectory 481 of a projectile causing the example puncture 480 when the conductive filaments include at least one of the conductive filaments in each of the layers exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity.
From the above description of Fabric and Lattice for Locating Damage, it is manifest that various techniques may be used for implementing the concepts of the fabric 100, 200, and 400 and the lattice 300 without departing from the scope of the claims. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The fabric 100, 200, or 400 or the lattice 300 disclosed herein may be practiced in the absence of any element that is not specifically claimed and/or disclosed herein. It should also be understood that the fabric 100, 200, or 400 or the lattice 300 is not limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but is capable of many embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A fabric for locating a damage including a puncture through the fabric, the fabric comprising:

a first plurality of conductive filaments that are spaced apart within a layer of the fabric;

a second plurality of insulating filaments distributed across the conductive filaments within the layer of the fabric, the insulating filaments adhering the conductive filaments together to form the layer of the fabric, yet separating the conductive filaments and electrically insulating the conductive filaments from each other; and

a continuity tester for checking for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments, the continuity tester for identifying any one or ones of the conductive filaments exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.

2. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the conductive filaments and the insulating filaments are interleaved within the layer of the fabric.

3. The fabric of claim 2, wherein the conductive filaments and the insulating filaments are all approximately parallel within the layer of the fabric.

4. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the conductive filaments are spaced apart approximately uniformly within the layer of the fabric.

5. The fabric of claim 4, wherein the conductive filaments are approximately parallel within the layer of the fabric and the insulating filaments are approximately parallel within the layer of the fabric.

6. The fabric of claim 1, wherein:

the fabric is rectangular with a first, second, third, and fourth edge in that order around a periphery of the fabric that is rectangular, and,

within the layer, each of the conductive filaments spans from a first end at the first edge to nearby the third edge, makes a U turn, and spans back from nearby the third edge to a second end at the first edge.

7. The fabric of claim 6, wherein the continuity tester is electrically coupled to the first and second ends of each of the conductive filaments at the first edge of the fabric that is rectangular.

8. The fabric of claim 1, wherein for each one of the conductive filaments:

said one of the conductive filaments has a respective first end and a respective second end;

the continuity tester is for applying an applied voltage to the respective first end and a resistive load to the respective second end, the resistive load having a resistance greater than an expected resistance of said one of the conductive filaments;

the continuity tester is for confirming the electrical continuity upon the respective second end having a voltage greater than a threshold voltage; and

the continuity tester is for identifying the loss of the electrical continuity upon the respective second end having a voltage less than the threshold voltage.

9. The fabric of claim 8, wherein the continuity tester includes a parallel-in serial-out shift register coupled to the respective second end of each of the conductive filaments for parallel capturing the electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments, and for serially identifying said one or said ones of the conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity.

10. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the continuity tester is for identifying said one or said ones of the conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the puncture through the fabric.

11. The fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric is a rigid fabric generated by 3D printing the conductive filaments with a conductive polymer and 3D printing the insulating filaments with an insulating polymer.

12. A lattice including the fabric of claim 1, the lattice for locating the damage and comprising:

the first plurality of conductive filaments within the layer, which is a first layer of the lattice;

the second plurality of insulating filaments within the first layer of the lattice;

a third plurality of conductive filaments that are spaced apart within a second layer of the lattice;

a fourth plurality of insulating filaments distributed across the third conductive filaments within the second layer of the lattice, the fourth insulating filaments adhering the third conductive filaments together to form the second layer of the lattice, yet separating the third conductive filaments and electrically insulating the third conductive filaments from each other; and

the continuity tester for checking for the electrical continuity through each of the first and third pluralities of the conductive filaments, the continuity tester for identifying said one or said ones of the first and third pluralities of the conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.

13. The lattice of claim 12, wherein:

the first conductive filaments are approximately parallel along a first direction within the first layer of the lattice;

the third conductive filaments are approximately parallel along a second direction within the second layer of the lattice, wherein the first and second directions are approximately perpendicular within the lattice; and

the continuity tester is for identifying coordinates in the first and second directions of the puncture through the lattice when said ones of the first and third pluralities include at least one of the first conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity and at least one of the third conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity.

14. A lattice for locating a damage including a puncture through the lattice, the lattice comprising:

a first plurality of conductive filaments that are spaced apart within a first layer of the lattice;

a second plurality of insulating filaments distributed across the first conductive filaments within the first layer of the lattice, the second insulating filaments adhering the first conductive filaments together to form the first layer of the lattice, yet separating the first conductive filaments and electrically insulating the first conductive filaments from each other;

a continuity tester for checking for an electrical continuity through each of the first and third pluralities of the conductive filaments, the continuity tester for identifying any one or ones of the first and third pluralities of the conductive filaments exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.

15. The lattice of claim 14, wherein:

the first conductive filaments and the third conductive filaments cross approximately perpendicular within the lattice; and

the continuity tester is for identifying at least one coordinate of the puncture through the lattice from said one or said ones of the first and third pluralities of the conductive filaments exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the puncture through the lattice.

16. The lattice of claim 14, wherein:

17. A fabric for locating a damage including a puncture through the fabric, the fabric comprising:

one or more layers with each layer including:

a plurality of conductive filaments that are spaced apart within the layer of the fabric; and

a plurality of insulating filaments distributed across the conductive filaments within the layer of the fabric, the insulating filaments adhering the conductive filaments together to form the layer of the fabric, yet separating the conductive filaments and electrically insulating the conductive filaments from each other; and

a continuity tester for checking for an electrical continuity through each of the conductive filaments of each of said one or more layers, the continuity tester for identifying any one or ones of the conductive filaments of said one or more layers exhibiting a loss of the electrical continuity due to the damage.

18. The fabric of claim 17, wherein:

the one or more layers is two layers comprising a first and second layer;

the conductive filaments of the first layer and the conductive filaments of the second layer cross approximately perpendicular within the fabric; and

the continuity tester is for identifying at least one coordinate of the puncture through the fabric from said one or said ones of the conductive filaments of the two layers exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the puncture through the fabric.

19. The fabric of claim 17, wherein:

the one or more layers is four layers comprising a first, second, third, and fourth layer;

the conductive filaments of the third layer and the conductive filaments of the fourth layer cross approximately perpendicular within the fabric; and

the continuity tester is for identifying at least one coordinate of the puncture through the fabric from said one or said ones of the conductive filaments of the four layers exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity due to the puncture through the fabric.

20. The fabric of claim 19, wherein:

the conductive filaments of the first layer are approximately parallel along a first direction within the first layer of the fabric;

the conductive filaments of the second layer are approximately parallel along a second direction within the second layer of the fabric, wherein the first and second directions are approximately perpendicular within the fabric;

the conductive filaments of the third layer are approximately parallel along the first direction within the third layer of the fabric;

the conductive filaments of the fourth layer are approximately parallel along the second direction within the fourth layer of the fabric;

the continuity tester is for identifying coordinates in the first and second directions of the puncture through the fabric and a trajectory of a projectile causing the puncture when said ones of the conductive filaments include at least one of the conductive filaments in each of the four layers exhibiting the loss of the electrical continuity.