Bronco – Acute and Chronic Head and Neck Protection for Fast Jet Pilots

Advancements in combat aircraft performance and flight equipment design, particularly the use of helmet-mounted display systems (HMDS), have led to an increase in reported neck pain and injury due to G loading among aircrew. These helmet-supported masses shift the center of gravity (CG) forward and superior to the normal CG. With this shifted CG, both low G loading during prolonged use and high G loading during maneuvers or ejection increase the stress on the cervical spine. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop an assistive technology to mitigate both acute head and neck injuries and chronic neck fatigue and pain associated. To address this, Luna Innovations, the University of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics, and Valor Defense Services, propose development a cervical spine protection device designed to mitigate both chronic and acute injuries.