ACES: Aircrew Endurance System

Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort are prevalent issues for naval pilots and aircrew, particularly within the rotary wing community where a combination of poor seat ergonomics and cockpit design result in airframes that actively promote poor posture and induce high rates of musculoskeletal fatigue. There is a critical need for a functional solution that can be rapidly implemented to reduce the incidence and severity of this pain. While numerous approaches may address some aspects of this issue, musculoskeletal pain will persist unless posture is corrected. Therefore, Luna is developing a low-cost, low-profile, wearable aircrew endurance system designed to mitigate pain and fatigue common to aviators. Through the use of computational modeling, the design is specifically targeted to reduce musculoskeletal load and pain for helicopter pilots and aircrew.