Ultra-thin Helmet-Compatible NIRS-Based Cerebral and Peripheral Oxygenation Sensor for Future Vertical Lift Operator State Monitoring Integration

The increased agility, speed, and altitude capabilities of the Army’s future vertical lift (FVL) aircraft are expected to dramatically increase physiological stress on Army aircrew during flight operations. These increased physiological and environmental stressors pose a serious and ongoing risk to mission success, and real-time operator state monitoring (OSM) is needed in order to continuously optimize performance during flight. Although there are no current physiological monitoring systems on Army aviators, novel monitoring solutions are already being developed for tactical jet aircrew which may be modified for Army FVL operator monitoring needs. NIRSense is that technology developer. NIRSense develops rugged wearable physiological monitoring systems for US servicemembers. Recently, NIRSense developed, delivered, and demonstrated an ultra-thin oximetry system optimized for Navy tactical jet aircrew cerebral oximetry in the operational flight environment called the NIRSense Aerie. This system features simultaneous photoplethysmography (PPG) for continuous pulse oximetry and pulse rate estimation alongside cerebral oximetry measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Using the Aerie system, NIRSense has demonstrated several successful human data collection with military collaborators with exposures to mission-relevant environmental stressors such as G-loading, hypoxia, and increased cognitive workload. In collaboration with USAARL, The Aerie has been included in protocols combining hypoxia and elevated cognitive workload.  This Phase I SBIR will assess the feasibility of adapting the Navy’s NIRSense Aerie for FVL aircrew monitoring. An expert workshop will identify the required enhancements and adaptations, and the main Deliverable is a scope of work for needed revisions in Phase II.