Diversified Technical Systems Explained

DTS, Diversified Technical Systems
Industry:Technology
Founders:Mike Beckage, Steve Pruitt, Tim Kippen
Hq Location City:Seal Beach, California
Hq Location Country:United States
Area Served:Worldwide
Products:Miniature Data Acquisition Systems, Sensors, Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) and related products
Owner:Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE: VPG)

DTS (Diversified Technical Systems) is an American manufacturer of miniature, high-shock rated, data acquisition systems and sensors for product and safety testing in extreme environments. DTS products, made in the U.S., are used in multiple industries including automotive, aerospace, military and defense, industrial, and sports and injury biomechanics. DTS was founded in 1990 by three crash test engineers: Mike Beckage, Steve Pruitt, and Tim Kippen. The company is headquartered in Seal Beach, California, with technical centers in Michigan, Europe, Japan, China, Korea, and Asia Pacific.

History

DTS founded their Roller Coaster Testing Services (RSTE) in 1994 and in 1996 became an S-Corporation and introduced the production of a modular DAS system, developed for KARCO Engineering (acquired by Applus+ IDIADA). Two years later they introduced their first major DAS product line TDAS PRO.

One year later in 1999, DTS won the Worldwide Side Impact Dummy contract to develop in-dummy DAS.[1] DTS developed and introduced the first centralized in-dummy DAS solution in 2000 and 2007' expanded beyond the automotive crash market. They also fielded their first helmet sensors in Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. In the same year, DTS introduced new technology in their product line of SLICE, TSR, and angular rate sensors, and also proposed Worldwide Side Impact Dummy[2] WorldSID with SLICE in-dummy DAS.

DTS was awarded its first Small Business Innovation Research Award (SBIR) in 2006 from the Department of Defense to develop a small, self-powered Impact Event Recorder (IER) that could be easily added to head protective equipment.[3]

Inc. Magazine named DTS one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. in 2009-[4] DTS SLICE (miniature modular DAS) was used to collect data for a new world record when Professor Splash dives from 35' 9" into 12" of water and one year later DTS grew to 50 employees with 6 global offices and 350+ customers. At the end of 2010 the first production version units of HEADS, Headborne Energy Analysis and Diagnostic Systems were delivered, a helmet-mounted shock recorder that collects field data to help soldiers determine if they should seek immediate attention for mild traumatic brain injury.[5] In 2011 the first HEADS production lot shipped and the first units were fielded by the U.S. Army.[6]

In 2012 NHTSA/Dept. of Transportation selected DTS’ TDAS G5 for 640 channels in new Crash Barrier Load Walls. They introduced the new flexible force sensor and the U.S. Army named DTS helmet sensor (HEADS) one of “The greatest inventions of 2011.”[7] DTS DAS was utilized in the world's biggest remote-controlled plane crash featured on The Discovery Channel "Curiosity." On CBS This Morning and CBS Nightline DTS DAS was featured in “Smart Dummies” about General Motors and “Brace for Impact.” and delivered the 40,000th helmet recorder to the U.S. Army.[4] Inc. Magazine named DTS one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. for the 2nd time.

In 2013 DTS relocated to corporate headquarters in Seal Beach, California, with over 80 employees and Technical Centers in North America, Europe & Asia-Pacific, and then in 2014 DTS was named by Inc. 5000 for a third time as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States. In the following year, 2015, DTS is awarded the U.S. Army contract to engineer and deliver a working prototype of WIAMan, the first blast test dummy, and in 2014 DTS delivered 18,000 additional helmet sensors to the U.S. Army.

The WIAMan program advanced and DTS delivered the technical data package (TDP) to the Army's WIAMan Engineering Office in 2018.[8] In 2019 Mike Beckage, DTS co-founder and CTO, was inducted into the Cal Poly Pomona College of Engineering Hall of Fame.[9]

On June 1, 2021, Diversified Technical Systems (DTS) became part of Vishay Precision Group, Inc. (NYSE: VPG).[10]

In 2022, for the 3rd year in a row, DTS is named one of the best places to work in Orange County, California by the BestCompaniesGroup.[11] NASA Artemis 1 launches on November 16 [12] with DTS TSR PRO onboard to gather data during the mission.[13] Co-founder Tim Kippen retires.

2023, DTS announces the release of the TSR AIR Data Logger and Italian-based Crisel as an international Sales Partner.

Headquarters and technical centers

DTS Headquarters

Seal Beach, California, U.S.A.

Technical centers

Lincolnshire, United Kingdom, English and German Language Support

Gennevilliers, France, French, English and Spanish support

Heilbronn, Germany, English and German Language Support

DTS products

Data Acquisition Systems (DAS), sensors and software

Aerospace : Modification testing, in-flight testing, seat testing, UAV & drones, parachutes, ejection seats, wind tunnels, and crash survivability.

Automotive

Safety testing, crash testing, pedestrian safety, rollover, airbag, NVH, road load, rotation and torque, off road testing, and sled testing.

Military & Defense

Military vehicle testing, blast testing, helmet recorders, over-pressure, ballistics, and missile/ordnance.

Injury Biomechanics

Occupant safety, Helmet testing, blunt trauma, traumatic brain injury (TBI), PMHS testing, research, and racehorse injury prevention.

Sports & Recreation: Sports helmets, bicycles, skis, roller coasters, and sports performance analysis.

Industrial

Wind turbines, mining, product development, robots, package transit, oil and gas.

Other Vehicles: Motorsports, Marine, Heavy Equipment, Trains & Rails

ATD Solutions/Integrated Data Acquisition Systems for Crash Test Dummies

Warrior Blast Manikin (WIAMan)

Prime contractor to the U.S. Army for the WIAMan, the U.S. Army Warrior Injury Assessment Manikin.[30] DTS builds both the manikin and in-dummy data acquisition and sensor system,[31] the SLICE6. WIAMan is the first anthropomorphic test device (ATD) designed specifically to withstand underbody blasts, like IEDs.[32]

Worldwide Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID)[33]

The first regulation ATD for automotive safety testing is designed with DTS dummy DAS.[2] The WorldSID is a project to develop a new generation of dummy under the International Organization for Standardization "WorldSID heralds a significant improvement in the ability of crash dummies to duplicate human motions and responses in side impact tests."[34] [35]

THOR – 50M

The SLICE6 THOR dummy is the most advanced ATD with embedded DAS for Euro NCAP automotive safety testing. Thor is the most realistic ATD to date.[36]

Hybrid III 50/95/5

Frontal impact Hybrid iii dummy with integrated DAS.

Pedestrian headforms[37]

Pedestrian headform impactor with SLICEware for pedestrian safety testing.[38]

Free Motion Headform

Free Motion Headform with DTS SLICE NANO for automotive safety testing.

SLICE Advanced Pedestrian Legform Impactor and FLEX PLI Legform

Flexible Pedestrian Legform Impactor (FLEX PLI) with SLICE NANO and 6DX PRO sensor for pedestrian protection testing.[39]

Awards and recognition

Small business innovation research awards

Source:[40]

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Department of Defense

Department of Transportation

Technology innovation awards

Notes and References

  1. Response of the Worldwide Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID) to Localized Constant-Speed Impacts . Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine . October 2011 . 55 . 3256833 . Sunnevång . C. . Subit . D. . Kindig . M. . Lessley . D. . Lamp . J. . Boström . O. . Kent . R. . 231–241 . 22105399 .
  2. Response of the Worldwide Side Impact Dummy (WorldSID) to Localized Constant-Speed Impacts. Cecilia. Sunnevång. Damien. Subit. Matthew. Kindig. David. Lessley. John. Lamp. Ola. Boström. Richard. Kent. October 28, 2011. Annals of Advances in Automotive Medicine / Annual Scientific Conference. 55. 231–241. 22105399. 3256833.
  3. Web site: Immunity from Threat Based on Measured Injury Causation | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  4. Web site: Everything You Need to Know to Start and Grow Your Business. Inc.com.
  5. Web site: 2010-08-16 . Combat Helmet Sensor Detects Potential Brain Injury . 2023-05-31 . mobile.Hospimedica.com . en.
  6. Web site: says . Ken . Maneuver Conference - BAE Systems - Soldier Systems Daily . 2023-05-31 . en-US.
  7. Web site: SBIR-STTR-Success: Diversified Technical Systems, Inc. | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  8. Web site: WIAMan program moves forward: ARL delivers technical data for new test manikin to PEO. Army Research. Laboratory. June 27, 2018.
  9. Web site: Hall of Fame. www.cpp.edu.
  10. Web site: Vishay Precision Group Acquires Diversified Technical Systems, Inc.. ir.vpgsensors.com.
  11. Web site: DTS Named Best Place to Work for 3rd Year . 6 July 2022 .
  12. Web site: Artemis 1 flies away from the launch pad in epic Orion spacecraft video . . 25 November 2022 .
  13. Web site: Purposeful Passenger: Artemis I Manikin Helps Prepare for Moon Missions With Crew. NASA . 14 June 2021 . 19 August 2022.
  14. Web site: Surviving the Impact: Core Quality Testing in a New Orbiting Sample Container for Potential Mars Sample Return . 2022-04-01 . 2021-03-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210325111134/https://trs.jpl.nasa.gov/bitstream/handle/2014/48061/CL%2317-2606.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y . dead .
  15. Web site: Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD). 2 April 2015.
  16. Web site: Purposeful Passenger: Artemis I Manikin Helps Prepare for Moon Missions With Crew . NASA . 14 June 2021 . 19 August 2022.
  17. Web site: Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD). Lee. Mohon. April 2, 2015. NASA. May 28, 2021. July 3, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210703215113/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tdm/ldsd/index.html. dead.
  18. Web site: Seat Testing. 18 January 2018 .
  19. https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/tp-202ad-00_tag.pdf
  20. Web site: Data loggers work with +/- 20-g sensors. www.testandmeasurementtips.com.
  21. Web site: Personnel High Rate Data Recorder | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  22. Web site: 6DOF Sensing & Dynamic Impact Recorder for Measurement of Ejection Event Biodynamics | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  23. Web site: Helmet Testing. 6 March 2018 .
  24. Web site: Crew Worn Acceleration Recorder for Spaceflight | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  25. Web site: Robots. 5 February 2018 .
  26. Web site: Mining. 5 February 2018 .
  27. Web site: Wind Turbines. 5 February 2018 .
  28. Web site: Motorcycles. 4 February 2018 .
  29. Web site: Fork eXcentive. www.youtube.com.
  30. Web site: WIAMan.
  31. Web site: Army creates crash test dummy to improve vehicle safety for soldiers. Rachael. Kalinyak. August 7, 2017. Army Times.
  32. Web site: WIAMan. Techbriefs Media. Group. www.aerodefensetech.com.
  33. https://www.iso.org/files/live/sites/isoorg/files/archive/pdf/en/worldsidnewsletter.pdf
  34. Web site: ISO unveils WorldSID: the world's smartest crash test dummy gains international acceptance. Elizabeth. Gasiorowski-Denis +41 22 749 03 25. ISO.
  35. http://www.ircobi.org/wordpress/downloads/irc2000/pdf_files/2000_42.pdf
  36. Web site: How Crash Test Dummies Evolved to Cost $1 Million. YouTube.
  37. Web site: Pedestrian headforms.
  38. Web site: Pedestrian headforms. www.sae.org.
  39. Web site: Archived copy . 2021-02-25 . 2017-01-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170124235423/https://www-esv.nhtsa.dot.gov/Proceedings/22/files/22ESV-000328.pdf . dead .
  40. Web site: About | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  41. Web site: Crew Worn Acceleration Recorder for Spaceflight | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  42. Web site: Rotorcraft Crash Sensor for Active Safety Systems and Mishap Dynamics Recording | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  43. Web site: In-Ear Exposure Sensor with Integrated Noise Attenuation and Communications Capabilities | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  44. Web site: 6DOF Sensing & Dynamic Impact Recorder for Measurement of Ejection Event Biodynamics | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  45. Web site: Personnel High Rate Data Recorder | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  46. Web site: Digital Data Recorder for Gauges in High Speed Weapons During Survivability Testing | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  47. Web site: Smart Automatic Jettisoning Device for Helmet Mounted Display System (HMDS) | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  48. Web site: ASPIRE: A Survivable, Programmable, Integrated Recorder for Experiments | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  49. Web site: ASPIRE: A Survivable, Programmable, Integrated Recorder for Experiments | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  50. Web site: 6 Dimensional Sensor Package (6DSP) | SBIR.gov. www.sbir.gov.
  51. Web site: The Best of Sensors Expo 2008. FierceElectronics. 16 July 2008.
  52. Web site: The Best of Sensors Expo Awards 2009: Meet the Winners!. FierceElectronics. July 2009.
  53. Web site: The 2010 Best of Sensors Expo Award Winners. FierceElectronics. August 2010.
  54. https://www.fierceelectronics.com/components/2010-best-sensors-expoaward-winners
  55. Web site: The 2011 Best of Sensors Expo Award Winners. FierceElectronics. 16 June 2011.

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