Soldier Mounted Eye Com 7 & 8 Eye Monitoring Biosensor, Communicator & Controller

In a CDC-sponsored SBIR Grants 2000 Phase I Solicitation, proof-of-concept of the patented wearable Eye Com-6 Biosensor-Communicator-Controller (EC-6) as a reliable drowsiness detection tool was demonstrated. Consisting of 2 IR-sensitive microcameras, IR eye-illuminating LED's and detectors affixed to a wrap-around eye frame 2-3 cm from each eye, its binocular Eye-See (tm) software tracked black/white pupillary, eyelid and eye ball movements, while displaying in electronic form, 8 of over 20 possible oculometrics (e.g. eyeblink velocity [EBV], acceleration [EBA], duration [EBD],percent of time eyes closed/open[PERCLOS/PEROP], eye movement velocity [EMV], gaze fixation, ocular dwell time, accomodation and vergence). For this US Army A04-191 Phase I proposal, an already-built tethered EC-7 and futuristic wireless EC-8, each consisting of 2 fiber-optic endo-probes (directed to the eyes) and a single fiberoptic exo-probe (directed away from the EC wearer's helmet, eye-gear, night scopes, etc.), will be coupled either to a 60Hz or 500-750Hz micro-camera, respectively, for low (e.g. EBD, EBF, PERCLOS) or high speed (e.g. saccadic eye movement velocity) oculometric analysis. The soldier mounted EC-7/8 Biosensors, functional under all lighting conditions and in unlimited domains (i.e. stationary or in motion), will be integrated with EEG, PSG, EKG and Performance Vigilance Testing (PVT) results in the same EC-6 PVT Test Bed and Oculometric Monitoring Station used in CDC Phase I. In Phase II EC-7 and EC-8 will be used to develop an integrated Composite Oculometric Fatigue Index (EC COFI [tm]) safety-response algorithm in a Drive/Flight Simulator. The soldier-worn EC-7/8 and COFI [tm] algorithm will: 1) identify and respond to potential or actual operational performance failure situations including inattentiveness, drowsiness, micro-sleep intrusions or loss of consciousness; 2) transmit oculometric signals to a remotely placed "black box" recorder; 3) trigger a vibro-tactile seat (i.e. the EC Rumble Seat [tm])or warning system; and 4) by purposeful or reflexive ocular movements, operate augmentative communication and control programs (i.e. an EC Eye Mouse[tm]) for soldiers, pilots or the disabled for hands-free operations.