Development of Injury Preventing Helmet Servo-Support System for High Performance Aircraft

The objective of this project is to develop a support system for the aviator's helmet wherein the load created by the helmet and helmet mounted equipment is removed from the aviator's head and transferred directly to the aircraft seat/airframe. The proposed system, while supporting the helmet load, shall be powered and controlled to move with the aviator's head such that the helmet is retained on the aviator's head in a normal manner. A control strategy is presented which will mitigate neck fatigue under normal and high "G" flight maneuvers and reduce the potential for spinal and neck injury during ejections. The final support system design, which will be applicable to both male and female aviators, will result from a scientific review of available anthropometric surveys, mass properties, biodynamic response, accelerations environments, and occipital pivot locations of the adult head and neck.