Seat/Bolster/Other

A shock mitigating suspended seat, which places the Special Forces Operator in an optimal ergonomic position, will be developed for use in the NSW 11M RIB. It will feature a semi-actively controlled shock absorber to optimize the suspension for a broadrange of operator weights and sea states. In the Phase I effort, a conceptual design and architecture for both control hardware and software was developed. This will provide the basis for the detailed design and fabrication of a prototype system capableof withstanding extended proof of concept and feasibility testing in Phase II. Dynamic modeling will be performed using customer supplied craft acceleration data to predict system benefits and provide sensor and actuator requirements. The seat will bedesigned to fit into the same footprint as the current bolster system and will allow ease of rapid ingress and egress for the boat crew and operators. A human factors study of the man machine interface in the NSW 11M RIB will be conducted to ensure thatthe proposed optimal ergonomic position is compatible with the location of craft monitoring and control devices. A design budget approach will be used to track the total system cost, weight and space claim.