The development of a stabbing machine for forensic textile damage analysis. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Benson, Natasha; Oliveria Dos Santos, Robson; Griffiths, Kate; Cole, Nerida; Doble, Philip; Roux, Claude; Blanes, Lucas
• Is Part Of: Forensic science international. Volume 273(2017)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 139
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: Stabbing Machine -- Textile damage -- Arduino -- Stab -- Knife; Medical jurisprudence -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Forensic -- Periodicals; Forensic Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine légale -- Périodiques; Chimie légale -- Périodiques; Gerechtelijke geneeskunde; Gerechtelijke chemie; Gerechtelijke psychiatrie; Chemistry, Forensic; Medical jurisprudence; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2017.02.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0379-0738

Abstract

Highlights: Development of horizontal stabbing machine with interchangeable knife holder. Simulation of stab events through pneumatic system. 60 stabbing positions via an Arduino microcontroller and knife holder. Robust and highly reproducible positioning system. Stabbing machine evaluated by measurement of severance length and textile damage. Abstract: This article describes the development of a horizontal stabbing machine with an interchangeable knife holder to simulate stab events. The machine consists of a motorised arm with a pneumatic system designed to deliver 60 unique stabbing positions. The mechanics were robust and the positioning system highly reproducible with standard deviations of less than 1.0 mm in the x-axis and 2.3 mm in the y-axis for a given stab position. The force of the instrument may be varied by the operator to a maximum of approximately 221 N. The suitability of the instrument for simulating stab events was evaluated by measuring the severance length and textile damage from stab delivered from four different knives and nine penetrating angles.