Personal Heating System

While the benefits of auxiliary heating of the human body when exposed to extremely cold temperatures are well known, there is currently no suitable technology developed to provide body heating in a completely autonomous and mobile system. In Phase I of the proposed program Aspen Systems will investigate the various technologies available to provide auxiliary heating to the body and identify those that show high potential in meeting the stated objectives. This will be followed by a demonstration of feasibility. At the completion of the first phase of the program we will be certain that the approach selected is the most advantageous and may be successfully developed into a marketable product. The Phase II program will include the development, prototyping, and field testing of a personal heating product which will be introduced to the commercial market immediately upon completion of the Phase II effort. The personal heating product developed in our program will not only greatly enhance the effectiveness of military personnel in performing their job function, but will also extend the mission lengths and conditions in which they may operate and survive. The emphasis on the development of a dual use product will generate a larger production volume which will result in lower costs for both military and commercial customers. Aspen Systems is in a unique position for success based on our previous experience in this area, our ties with commercial companies which currently manufacture and distribute personal heat transfer products, and our technology currently under development to catalytically reform diesel fuel and JPS to clean burning gaseous fuels. The personal heating product developed in this program will be directly applicable to many commercial markets and will greatly improve the productivity and job satisfaction of construction workers, cold storage facility workers, and utility linesman, to name but a few. This product could even be used in life saving applications like search and rescue as well as the vast recreation market