Continuous Wave Cushion: E-2 Flight Demonstration

While use of modern passive cushion technologies has seemingly increased aircrew endurance and mission effectiveness by improving pressure distribution, no static cushion will ultimately be able to fully relieve the ischemia-induced discomfort and numbness that occur from bearing the occupantÆs weight for long periods. Only an active solution, such as the CWC, will be capable of periodically unloading these regions to restore circulation while maintaining occupant support. Crews flying a number of other military aircraft face physiological hazards similar to those faced by E-2 Hawkeye crews. The final objective of the proposed effort is to determine the feasibility of adapting the CWC technology to other aircraft platforms. Several other aircraft perform long-duration operational flights, including airlift cargo aircraft such as the C-5, C-17, C-130, and KC-135, as well as surveillance aircraft such as the P-3, P-8, and E-3. Successful transition of the technology onto the E-2 platform is expected to pave the way for design variants of the CWC for other aviation applications. In addition to the aforementioned fixed-wing examples, rotary-wing military aircraft may also present a number of opportunities for replacing heritage seat cushion designs with a CWC variant to improve occupant habitability and mission performance.