AN ACTIVE NECK PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR CREWMEMBERS OF HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT

NECK STRAINS ARE FREQUENT AND NECK FRACTURES ARE OCCASIONALLY EXPERIENCED AMONG PILOTS AND HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT. CURRENT ACCELERATION PROTECTION TECHNIQUES HAVE CONCENTRATED ON PHYSIOLOGICAL PROTECTION AND LARGELY IGNORE NECK PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS. PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED NECK PROTECTION SCHEMES PRIMARILY RELY UPON LIMITING HEAD DISPLACEMENTS, LEADING TO UNACCEPTABLE OPERATIONAL LIMITATIONS. THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL ESTABLISH A SYSTEM DESIGN CONCEPT, INCLUDING BASIC SYSTEM DESIGN CRITERIA, FOR AN ACTIVE NECK PROTECTION DEVICE SUITABLE FOR USE BY HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT CREWMEMBERS. THE SYSTEM WILL DETERMINE POTENTIALLY INJURIOUS HEAD AND NECK MOTIONS AT THEIR ONSET AND PROVIDE SUITABLE ALTERNATE LOAD PATHS TO ACCOMPLISH HEAD SUPPORT AND NECK PROTECTION. DURING THOSE TIMES WHEN INJURIOUS MOTIONS ARE NOT OCCURRING, THE PROPOSED SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE IVRTUALLY UNRESTRICTED HEAD AND NECK MOTION. THE PROPOSED EFFORT WILL UTILIZE COMPUTER SIMULATION WITH A SUITABLE HEAD-NECK MATHEMATICAL MODEL TO ENSURE THAT SYSTEM DESIGN CRITERIA WILL MEET OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE HIGH PERFORMANCE AIRCRAFT MANEUVERS. THE PRODUCT OF THE EFFORT WILL BE A SYSTEM DESIGN CONCEPT WITH SPECIFIC SYSTEM PERFORMANCE CRITERIA TO ALLOW FOLLOW-ON CONSTRUCTION AND HUMAN TESTING OF A PROTOTYPE DEVICE.