Integration of Physiological Alerting and Location Monitoring from WearTAK-Mil into Special Tactics Radio Data Transport Layers

The WearTAK-Mil system enhances warfighter safety and operational effectiveness by integrating real-time physiological monitoring and location tracking into existing U.S. Air Force Special Tactics (ST) communication networks. This Sequential Phase II project focuses on developing, testing, and refining the WearTAK-Mil prototype to ensure seamless integration with currently fielded Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) and Link 16 data transfer systems, supporting ST mission success in austere and contested environments. The project will enhance the WearTAK-Mil system by:Integrating Physiological Monitoring – Incorporating a NIAP-compliant wrist-worn device to transmit real-time vital signs (e.g., heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure) over secure, resilient networks.Enhancing Location Tracking – Utilizing advanced radio-based triangulation and trilateration techniques to provide GPS-independent positioning for ST operators in communication-limited environments.Interoperability with Fielded Systems – Ensuring compatibility with L3Harris, Persistent Systems, and TrellisWare networking solutions to optimize data transmission using Cursor-on-Target (CoT) protocols for real-time situational awareness.Optimizing Data Payloads for ATAK – Conducting feasibility studies to refine CoT message formats and reduce bandwidth consumption while maintaining interoperability between MANET and Link 16 systems.This effort directly supports USAF Special Tactics operational requirements, enhancing situational awareness, survivability, and mission effectiveness. By ensuring reliable, low-latency data exchange across fielded tactical communication systems, the project strengthens resilient information sharing and enables ST teams to operate effectively in dynamic and high-threat environments. Deliverables within 18 months include discovery documentation, prototype testing results, UI/UX research findings, and a field test report, validating WearTAK-Mil’s role in advancing warfighter performance monitoring and tactical data transmission solutions for USAF Special Tactics missions.