RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

TITLE: T.E.R.R.U.R (TASER EQUIPPED REINFORCED RETRACTABLE

UMBRELLA ROD)

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

Criminality still plagues the country despite the government’s massive effort

to address the issue. Factors such as poverty, corruption and drugs forces people

especially from the slums to become desperate and commit heinous crimes such

as thief, extortion, rape and murder which preys on innocent people particularly

women and students. And even as the government’s War on Drugs campaign

pound criminals left and right, the amount of bad guys still prowling the streets are

enough to give civilians concern for their safety.

As the number of case involving street related crimes continues to rise, so

does the demand for a means of protection like CCTVs, increased police visibility,

and self-defense weaponry. As of today, there is a vast arsenal of self-defense

tools available on the market ranging from simple whistle and pepper spray to high-

tech electroshock weapons such as stun guns and Tasers. Although wielding such

sweet gadgets may not be sufficient to give its user a fighting chance as criminals

will not wait for you to grab your Taser from your bag. Because of this, the

researchers for this study decided to address the problem by combing a self-

1
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

defense tool with one of the most common tools used outside our home: The

umbrella.

The Taser is one of the most effective non-lethal self-defense weapons

used worldwide thus it will be the researchers’ weapon of choice for their design.

The amply named T.E.R.R.U.R or Taser-Equipped Reinforced Retractable

Umbrella Rod is a hybrid self-defense weapon that has both the capabilities of a

Taser and a retractable umbrella, giving it an electrifying personality. Its added

feature is its reinforced framework and canopy that can withstand strikes from

melee weapons by acting as a shield. The design will not only protect its wielder

from rain and sunlight but also against thugs or potential attackers at the same

time accessible enough to be quickly utilized. Defense, offense and discretion; all

in the palm of your hand.

Objectives of the Study

This study aims to fabricate an upgraded version of an umbrella by attaching

a Taser device making it a self-defense weapon. The objectives of this study

include:

1. To attach a Taser mechanism into a traditional umbrella that can deliver

a non-lethal electric shock enough to induce stun and extreme pain to

human targets.

2. To improve the durability of the umbrella by reinforcing its framework

giving it enough strength to withstand impact stress from blunt weapons.

2
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

3. To provide enough insulation and safety precautions to prevent the

prototype from backfiring to the user.

4. To give the stun gun components of the prototype extended reach by

fabricating a mechanism that will launch the electrodes as projectiles.

Significance of the study

This study is considered important with regards to being physically ready

given the fact that there are a lot of morally disoriented people that may attack

another person. A study such as this contributes a huge help to an individual.

The taser is one of the most effective and reliable self-defense weapons

used worldwide. And by combining it with one of the most common tools used

outside our homes, this design may serve as a very convenient means of self-

protection.

The study aims to benefit the following:

For Civilians: To have a means of self-defense that is very accessible to utilize in

case of emergency. Prevent robbery, sexual assault and other street related

crimes. The device’s reinforced framework may protect individuals from blunted or

even pointed weapons by serving as a shield. The umbrella’s framework may even

provide protection against falling debris during an earthquake.

3
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

For Society: The device may contribute to the decrease of crime in a community

thus, promoting peace and order. It also encourages the used of non-lethal

weaponry decreasing fatality rate cause by firearms.

For Businesses: The device will help business organizations in terms of selling

an umbrella that can also be used as a means of self-defense.

Scope and Delimitations of the Study

This study focuses on creating an umbrella that can be also a means of self-

defense by attaching a taser device to the umbrella.

In designing the said device, selection of materials required for the

reinforcement of the umbrella component is important. As well as the specifications

of the taser components, and knowing the electricity’s conductivity against different

materials especially to water and human flesh.

This study focuses also on all necessary computations such as electric

current x time, pressure, stress and conductivity.

The coverage of this study is limited in designing and fabricating an

umbrella rod with a taser device on it which helps the device to be used as a self-

defense device for an individual.

4
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Definition of terms

For clarity of presentation, the following terms are defined according to its

use in the study:

Prototype is a functional form of a new type or design of a machine. For

TASER (ThomAs Swift’s Electric Rifle) is a long range electroshock weapon

capable of delivering electric shock via two small dart- like electrodes to inflict stun

and extreme pain to the target.

Electroshock weapon is a class of non-lethal weapons that uses electricity to

incapacitate targets or serve as a pain compliance technique. Examples of which

are stun guns and Tasers.

Stun means to knock unconscious or into a dazed semiconscious state. In this

research, it will be refer to as neuromuscular incapacitation.

Drive stun is a capability found in some taser models where the taser is held

against a target w/out firing the electrodes.

Pain compliance is the use of painful stimulus to control or direct a person into

compliance.

Stress is defined as Force [N] acting on an area [sq. m].

Compressive Stress/Compression is a kind of stress that is caused by an

applied load that acts to reduce the length of a material along the axis of the applied

load, in other words by pushing the material.

5
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Tensile Stress/ Tension is a kind of stress that is caused by an applied load that

acts to elongate the length of a material along the axis of the applied load, in other

words by pulling the material.

Shear Stress is a kind of stress that is caused by the combined energy of a pair

of opposing forces acting along parallel lines of action through the material.

Strength is the ability of a material to withstand an applied load without failure of

plastic deformation.

Compressive strength is the limit state of compressive stress

Tensile strength is the limit state of tensile stress

Fatigue/Endurance strength is a measure of the strength of a material under

cyclic loading. Fatigue is the weakening of the material caused by repeated loads.

Impact Strength is the capability of the material to withstand a suddenly applied

load.

Ultimate Strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand before it breaks

apart or weakens.

Voltage is the force of an electrical current that is measured in volts. Contrary to

belief, voltage is not the main factor regarding electric shocks

Current is the flow of electricity. Main unit considered in analyzing effects of

electric shocks in the human body.

Resistance is the opposition offered by a body or substance to passage through

it of a steady electric current

6
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Significance of Self Defense

Women’s self-defense training has been excluded from sexual violence

prevention efforts for a variety of reasons, including concerns that it is ineffective,

encourages victim blaming, neglects acquaintance assault, and does not target

the underlying factors that facilitate sexual violence. In this article, I argue that

these critiques are misguided, founded on (1) misunderstandings of self-defense

training, (2) stereotypes about gender, and (3) individualistic assumptions about

the impact of self-defense. Further, I assert that empowerment-based self-defense

training helps to change the root conditions that allow violence against women to

flourish. For all these reasons, and because recent research has built a case for

its effectiveness, I argue that women’s empowerment-based self-defense training

should be part of any sexual violence prevention effort. (Hollander, 2016)

History of Taser

Jack Cover, a NASA researcher, began developing the Taser in 1969.] By

1974, Cover had completed the device, which he named after his childhood hero

Tom Swift (book "Thomas [A] Swift's electric rifle", by "Victor Appleton", a house

pseudonym of the Stratemeyer Syndicate). The Taser Public Defender used

gunpowder as its propellant, which led the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and

7
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Firearms to classify it as a firearm in 1976. The backformed verb "to tase" is used

sometimes.

Taser International CEO Patrick Smith has testified in a Taser-related lawsuit that

the catalyst for the development of the device was the "shooting death of two of

his high school acquaintances" by a "guy with a legally licensed gun who lost his

temper". In 1993, Rick Smith and his brother Thomas began to investigate what

they called "safer use of force option[s] for citizens and law enforcement". At their

Scottsdale, Arizona, facilities, the brothers worked with the "...original Taser

inventor, Jack Cover" to develop a "non-firearm Taser electronic control device".

The 1994 Air Taser Model 34000 had an "anti-felon identification (AFID) system"

to prevent the likelihood that the device would be used by criminals; upon use, it

released many small pieces of paper containing the serial number of the Taser

device. The U.S. firearms regulator, the ATF, stated that the Air Taser was not a

firearm. In 1999, Taser International developed an "...ergonomically handgun-

shaped device called the Advanced Taser M-series systems", which used a

"...patented neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) technology". In May 2003, Taser

International released a new weapon called the Taser X26, which used "shaped

pulse technology". On July 27, 2009 Taser International released a new type of

Taser called the X3, which can fire three shots before reloading. It holds three new

type cartridges, which are much thinner than the previous model.

8
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Effects of electroshock weapon to human body

The minimum current that a human can feel is 1 milliampere (mA). The

current can result in damage of tissues or fibrillation if it is of high voltage. Electric

shock can also cause death and is referred to as electrocution. It is usually said

that currents about 100 mA can be lethal when applied to the sensitive parts of the

human body. There are a number of complications that can arise from an electric

shock.

Burns: Shocks can give rise to burns. An electric shock for a lower voltage can

result in superficial burns on the surface of the skin. But, electric shocks of voltage

between 500 to 1000 volts can give rise to internal burns. It can lead to organ burns

that can also affect the heart. This makes the burns; caused from electric shock

different from chemical burns and fire burns. The burns from an electric shock can

result in organ failure and can lead to death.

Neurological Effects: An electric shock can interfere with the nervous control

especially on the heart, lungs. Repeated electric shock that does not lead to death

has been shown to be a cause for neuropathy. When the current moves near the

head then loss of consciousness occur fast.

Effect on the Chest: When a small current 50 or 60 Hz is passed through the chest,

it can result in ventricular fibrillation. If this is not treated immediately by

defibrillation, it can be lethal as the heart muscle cells start moving independently.

A shock more than 200 mA is so strong that it can literally stop the heart muscles

from moving.

9
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

When a person is affected by an electric shock it can lead to:

Collapse of the person.

Severe muscle contractions that can result in fractures, loss of consciousness or

dislocation of joints.

The respiratory system can be paralyzed and the heartbeat can either become

very fast and irregular or can completely stop beating.

Any high voltage transmission of electric shock can cause death of tissues at the

entry and the exit points of the current. There can be presence of edema as the

blood at the point coagulates and the muscles swell up.

Electric current is capable of producing deep and severe burns in the body due to

power dissipation across the body’s electrical resistance.

Tetanus is the condition where muscles involuntarily contract due to the passage

of external electric current through the body. When involuntary contraction of

muscles controlling the fingers causes a victim to be unable to let go of an

energized conductor, the victim is said to be “froze on the circuit.”

Diaphragm (lung) and heart muscles are similarly affected by electric current. Even

currents too small to induce tetanus can be strong enough to interfere with the

heart’s pacemaker neurons, causing the heart to flutter instead of strongly beat.

Direct current (DC) is more likely to cause muscle tetanus than alternating current

(AC), making DC more likely to “freeze” a victim in a shock scenario. However, AC

is more likely to cause a victim’s heart to fibrillate, which is a more dangerous

condition for the victim after the shocking current has been halted.

10
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Umbrella as Self Defense

As the war has brought new freedoms and new duties to women so has it

brought increased hazard. Dimmed-out streets, the necessity of going into areas

they would not ordinarily enter, and at times of night when they would ordinarily be

safe at home, the increase of lawlessness that seems to be a by=product of the

larger violence of war – these and other factors increase the chances that a women

may have to defend herself against sudden attack.

Women are accepting the added danger with courage. But the fact is that

the danger can be greatly minimized – perhaps more important, the fear of being

helpless against attack can be largely removed – if women will learn a few simple

measures of defense. Some of those measures originally worked out for men have

been adapted to the smaller stature and slighter strength of women.

All of these measures call for study and practice. They must be learned so

that they can be called on quickly, smoothly and surely. In practice but a small

fraction of full strength is used, but when called for there must be no withholding,

no restraint. The attacker is ruthless and the woman must be.

For one example among many, study the umbrella defense. The usual

reaction would be for the woman to try to beat her attacker over the head with it.

This not only will not stop a man, it may serve to enrage him. But used as shown

– the same way a Commando can use a short stick – an umbrella in a woman’s

hands can break a man’s hold, break his jaw, blind him, and crush his Adam’s

apple. In fact, it can kill him. (Major W.E. Fairbairn, 1941 Self-Defense by Women)

11
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Sociological effects of Taser and other electroshock weapon

A research conducted by William Terrill, who leads the project. The result

says that using stun gun as a device used by the policemen in Columbus, Ohio,

Portland and some areas are effective and safe. Also many countries had already

adopted and embraced of this another way of implementing rules in every law

enforcement unit. It is believe that it will help in eliminating crime rate, if it is used

carefully and has to be done in a way that is fair and objective. Law enforcement

are well trained already before allowing them to maneuver such device.

Effects of electroshock weapons on crime rate and fatalities during

encounters

A study found in U.S. that when officers used force, injury rates to citizens

ranged from 17 to 64 percent, depending on the agency, while officer injury rates

ranged from 10 to 20 percent. Most injuries involve minor bruises, strains and

abrasions. The study’s most significant finding is that, while results were not

uniform across all agencies, the use of pepper spray and CEDs can significantly

reduce injuries to suspects and the use of CEDs can decrease injuries to officers.

The researchers assert that all injuries must be taken seriously. When police in a

democracy use force and injury results, concern about police abuse arises,

lawsuits often follow and the reputation of the police is threatened. Injuries also

cost money in medical bills for indigent suspects, workers’ compensation claims

for injured officers or damages paid out in legal settlements or judgments. (Alpert,

Et. Al, 2011)

12
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER 3

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Narrative

The T.E.R.R.U.R is a hybrid device that converts a conventional retractable

umbrella into a self-defense weapon by installing a TASER device to its main

compartments. The prototype composed of a detachable launching cartridge

located at the tip of the umbrella that houses two small pointed electrodes

designed to deliver electric shock to the target when launched. These electrodes

in turn are connected via wires to a power source hidden at the umbrella`s handle

which also contains three push buttons. The first push button mechanically

opens/closes the umbrella`s canopy. The second push button is located just below

the first one and is hidden by a detachable cover which serves as a safety

mechanism. When activated, it will send electrical signals to the cartridge opening

its reservoir, releasing compressed Nitrogen gas and launching the electrodes.

This also delivers constant flow of electric current from its power source to the

electrodes until the push button is released. The third push button is designed to

electronically dislodge the cartridge after being used and exposing its main probes

switching the device from “TASER” mode to “Drive Stun” mode. At this mode, the

prototype significantly loses most of its incapacitating capabilities although it can

still function as an effective pain compliance technique.

13
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

In order to minimize the possibility of the device backfiring to the user (as

the ironic installment of an electroshock weapon into a usually wet apparatus is

bound to have painful consequences), a collection of electrically insulated

materials are used in designing the umbrella element in order to prevent electric

current from traveling towards the user.

Materials and Specifications

Machine Components:

1. Retractable Umbrella

2. TASER

3. Detachable Launching Cartridge

4. Control Component

Design specifications of component parts

Speed of launched electrodes : 5.5m/sec

Maximum range : 4.5 meters

Power Output : 50,000 volts,

Battery Storage : Replaceable lithium ion battery

Launching mechanism : Compressed Nitrogen cartridges

14
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Dimensions : 105cm x 56cm (opened), 30cm x 6cm (closed)

Materials used : TEFLON coated nylon (Canopy), fiberglass

(Shaft, Stretcher, Rib), Silicon rubber (Handle)

Copper (Wiring)

Methodology:

Design

(Opened)

(Closed)

Phases of construction

1. Data gathering. Involves researchers collecting and understanding of all

necessary data, formulas and parameters such as human resistance to

15
 RIZAL TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

electricity, insulation, stress and basic knowledge on electronics and

pneumatics.

2. Designing. This involves applying collected data in finalizing the theoretical

model for the prototype. This is done through material selection, reverse

engineering, mathematics and testing.

3. Fabrication. Final phase where production of a working model is carry out.

16