SENSORS: System for Evaluating Neurological Stress with Objective and Remote Sensors

The primary goal of this work is to develop an objective, wearable and robust medical data sensing and processing system, to remotely assess warfighter stress level and cognitive state. The experience of United States Army and much medical research show that types of neurological stress can greatly impede human performance, thus the Army seeks ways of reducing the cognitive workload on warfighters. During Research Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) exercises, candidate military equipment and systems must be evaluated for how well they inform and facilitate warfighter decision-making during combat situations, and reduce stress and cognitive workload. Currently there is no objective means to evaluate cognitive state, nor therefore a human-machine interface. TIAX, in collaboration with Harvard Medical School and MIT researchers, proposes to research and build a medical sensor array worn by the warfighter during battle or simulation, to broadcast neurological data. Phase I will involve an interactive feasibility study of neurological measures and their supporting methods, followed by a Phase I option for systems integration and data reduction algorithms, leading to a Phase II construction of a system for warfighter use, and spawning Phase III commercialization of derivative products for critical staff monitoring, trucker alertness and lie detection.