KWESST Micro Systems Inc (CVE:KWE) (OTCQB:KWEMF) said it has received confirmation from intellectual property counsel that provisional patents for a proprietary non-lethal munitions technology system referred to as the Low Energy Cartridge (LEC) technology have been filed by David Luxton, the inventor of the technology.
The developer of high-value ultra-miniaturized technology for the defense and security markets said the patents will be transferred to the company upon the closing of its planned acquisition of the LEC technology, which was originally announced in January.
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The LEC technology is a cartridge designed to ensure reliable functioning of the firing platform, as well as keeping the terminal effects non-lethal, mostly by ensuring muzzle velocity remains below 400 feet per second (fps).
KWESST said the LEC technology has universal application across four market segments that currently use a variety of dated "non-lethal" or "less-lethal" products such as public order, military and law enforcement training, personal defense, and high-action gaming.
"Competing products such as traditional air-powered systems for public order, personal protection and gaming have limitations which the LEC Technology does not," said Jeff MacLeod, President and Chief Executive of KWESST said in a statement.
"Air-powered systems require high maintenance due to synthetic seals and "O" rings that dry out or burst, leading to complete failure. They have variable performance due to the effect of ambient temperature on compressed gas, especially in cold weather. Systems utilizing compressed gas, cannot typically be stored with gas in the system as the aforementioned seals and "O" rings will allow the gas to escape over time, potentially rendering the device unusable when needed the most. Other alternatives, such as Taser, carried by some 400,000 American patrol officers, can also be unreliable in certain situations with, as an example, an effectiveness rating of 57.1% being reported by LAPD,” he said.
"The kind of fatalities that have led to widespread protests in the US are just one example of the need for more advanced solutions that enable law enforcement to engage with more benign devices from a safer stand-off distance and ensure that everyone goes home alive," added David Luxton.
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