Sweating Mannequins: Testing Heatproof Clothing

Thermetrics, a Seattle-based firm, has developed sophisticated mannequins like Andy to test how the human body reacts to extreme heat. As the world gets warmer, clothing designers, car manufacturers, and militaries are investing billions of dollars to develop technology that keeps people safe, comfortable, and fashionable in hot environments. Testing this gear on humans has drawbacks, such as being expensive and subjective. That's why the military began building thermomanikins, human-shaped heaters, in the 1940s to test garments for soldiers. These mannequins have evolved over time, with enhancements like internal cooling and modified sweating functions, enabling researchers to mimic the body's attempt to heat and cool itself. They can also be used to understand the limits of the body in extreme temperatures and test cooling strategies.