Cockpit Electromagnetic Radiation Testing And INterpretation (CERTAIN)

There is potential for intense, pulsed and non-uniform electromagnetic fields (EMFs) to exist within DoD tactical aircraft, and the potential for such EMFs to degrade pilot performance and lead to serious mishaps including loss of life. Proposers will begin with a methodical study of the actual EMF environments in the cockpits of representative aircraft to establish nature of any extreme fields present. Guided by the results of that investigation and leveraging decades or prior work, proposers will prototype a small, wearable “EMF dosimeter” that can monitor EMFs in an operational environment. If Phase II is funded, the wearable device will evolve into a high-performance, pilot-wearable EMF monitor to record and analyze EMF environments and flight dynamics during sorties, as well as simultaneously recording pilot physiologic and performance data. In addition proposers will develop a detailed research study plan for Phase II involving human subjects who will be evaluated to determine of EMFs as measured in Phase I have negative impacts on pilot performance.