After a longer than expected gestation period, Thermetrics, a manufacturer of testing and measurement instrumentation systems, is introducing the latest custom thermal manikin – a new 11-zone baby sweating model that the company named “Baby Ruth.”

The 11-zone Baby Manikin is designed to be approximately the size of a nine-month old child. It is constructed from a thermally conductive carbon-epoxy shell with internal heater elements and temperature sensors. Spherical ball joints are used at the neck, shoulders, and hips, with single-flexure joints at the knees and elbows. Cable connections are at the eyes to minimise any interference with the garment being tested, the company explains.

The Baby Manikin also includes Thermetrics exclusive sweating skin system, which utilises a matrix of pores over the active surface of the manikin coupled with computerised fluid delivery and a wicking fabric skin layer to distribute water over the surface of the manikin. “This method allows for precise control of the sweating rate, selectable by manikin region,” the manufacturer reports.

“Fitting all this technology into an instrument the size of a 9-month old child was extremely challenging, and it required the development of new miniaturized components and innovative bundling techniques to successfully achieve this outcome. Good things really do come in small packages,” the company says.

The new Baby Manikin can be used to evaluate the thermal properties of clothing and baby gear, diapers, indoor environments, and bedding and baby carriers, including car seats and strollers.

“Like all of our thermal manikin family members, “Baby Ruth” is a complete turn-key package with manikin body form, control electronics, PC laptop computer, and ThermDAC software,” the company concludes. The Baby Manikin has been shipped to RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

www.thermetrics.com