Real Time Physiological Status Monitor for MicroClimate Control

The goal of this SBIR is to develop an Automated MicroClimate Cooling System that integrates a Real Time Physiological Status Monitor (RT-PSM) with a Personal Cooling System (PCS) in order to optimize cooling and battery life. The RT-PSM will measure the warfighter's thermal strain and input the data into an algorithm that outputs an optimized power level to set the PCS. The innovation lies in its ability to automatically regulate cooling based on individual physiological responses, preventing both heat stress and vasoconstriction. The system utilizes advanced algorithms to process multiple physiological parameters, including skin temperature, estimated core temperature, heart rate, and skin heat flux, moving beyond traditional one-size-fits-all Physiological Strain Index (PSI) approaches. A key technical feature includes over-the-air upgrade capability for continuous algorithm optimization, ensuring system adaptability and improvement over time. The unique advantage to SlateSafety’s proposal is that we already have a commercialized armband wearable (the BAND V2) with over 3,500 devices in the field today that aims to prevent injuries or deaths due to heat stress and overexertion in real-time. Because of this, the SlateSafety System already accomplishes many of the stated requirements and only needs adaptations in order to exceed the requirements as opposed to a completely new design. The SlateSafety System measures heat strain and communicates personal status and alerts in real time. Therefore, the main goal of this SBIR technical effort is to develop adaptations that allow the BAND V2 to communicate to the PCS and an algorithm that automates the cooling level based on real-time individual physiology. In doing so, the microclimate cooling system worn by warfighters today will become more energy efficient while reducing cognitive load, allowing for greater time on target and better operational outcomes.