McLaren Invincible Shield
What happens when you ask some of the most prestigious automotive engineers in the world to build you a medical device? The McLaren Invincible Shield is what happens.
Commissioned by an anonymous billionaire who has suffered a series of injuries that have compromised the structural integrity of his sternum and ribcage, this vest was built to act as a kind of space-age exoskeleton. The carbon fiber chest plate on the front of the vest disperses force away from the center of the body towards three points that rest on gel pads. Despite being hefty and strong enough to protect from hard blows, the shield has a low profile build that makes it unnoticeable under a button-up shirt. It’s also surprisingly dynamic. To allow for a comfortable fit and a free range of motion, the team at McLaren designed the chest plate to wrap around a vest woven from tough Dyneema and Zylon fibers. Not bad for something without an engine and four wheels.
