Minimally Intrusive Monitoring of Operator State (MIMOS)

Army aviators are inundated with a myriad of factors to monitor (e.g., weather, projectiles), requiring an intimate balance between the autonomic and central nervous systems. As aircraft become more advanced, with increased speeds and altitudes, operator physiological features, along with those of crew members, become of amplified concern. Recent efforts have focused on monitoring blood oxygen levels in aviators as peripheral and cerebral oxygen saturation levels change with increased stress. However, more precise measures of the physiological and medical (PM) state of the aircraft operator are needed, with a focus on the detection of physiological signatures following hydrostatic shock (HSS). To meet this requirement, Charles River Analytics proposes to design and demonstrate the feasibility of a Minimally Intrusive Monitoring of Operator State (MIMOS) platform. The MIMOS effort includes the design of a flight-compatible sensor suite for measuring aviation crew member physiology, implementation of signal processing and model-based prediction and interpretation of PM state, and a PM Monitoring Interface designed to meet the needs of Army pilots and crew members. Such a system will mitigate immediate safety and situational concerns, informing assessments of pilots and crew members of unit medical status to optimize awareness of medical needs across Army aviation teams.