Advanced Physiological Monitoring to Enhance Pilot Training and Special Operator Performance

The demand for pilot physiological monitoring has increased over the past decade with a focus on improving operator safety while achieving peak human performance in high risk, high gain environments. In recent years, the Air Force has witnessed an increase in physiological incidences among pilots. In each of these cases, the pilot experienced significant cognitive and physical degradation. Without physiological data on the state of the pilot before, during, and after each incident, it is difficult to determine the cause of an event. Through real-time, continuous physiological monitoring of pilots, new protocols can be derived leading to improved overall training, hydration, and performance optimization thereby mitigating the onset or impact of physiological incidences.