Direct to Phase II Open Topic: Open Call for Innovative Defense-Related Dual-Purpose Technologies/Solutions with a Clear Air Force Stakeholder Need

According to the aerospace medical association 70% to 85% of pilot trainees experience motion sickness. Otolith has developed a wearable technology which has been clinically proven to significantly reduce motion sickness in 100% of subjects with reported efficacy greater than pharmaceutical interventions. The AETC is facing a pilot shortage and has expressed desire for Otolith to integrate its technology into pilot trainee helmets in order to reduce the pilot trainee dropout rate. The goal of this Phase II project is to integrate Otolith’s technology into a small batch of pilot helmets for the AETC to evaluate. Otolith’s non-invasive Vestibular System Masking (nVSM) technology uses inaudible mechanical vibrations to stimulate the vestibular system in a constant and non-informative way. The technology is currently being evaluated for the medical treatment of vertigo and severe motion sickness. nVSM is also in use as a VR simulator accessory for the prevention of simulator sickness. Advantages to nVSM over other therapeutics include, lack of side effects, fully therapeutic in seconds and its efficacy doesn’t diminish with time. Successful integration of nVSM with pilot trainee helmets could save the AETC millions of dollars per year as each pilot represents an investment of over 1 million dollars.