N231-057 TITLE: Real-Time Training Heat and Load Monitoring Kits for Ground Forces

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML); Biotechnology; General Warfighting Requirements (GWR)

OBJECTIVE: Develop a Heat Illness Prevention System (HIPS) kit that provides technologies for real-time monitoring to prevent exertional heat illness in a training environment, at scale, for active-duty service members � specifically for Marine Corps and Army personnel.

DESCRIPTION: The U.S. Army Medical and Material Development Agency (USAMMDA), under the Health Readiness and Performance System (HRAPS) program of record has developed a suit of technologies and capabilities for use in a training environment. In addition, the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USAIRIEM) has developed several critical heat strain state algorithms that estimate core body temperature, heat illness risk, and predict heat stroke. Together, the HRAPS technologies and algorithms have been combined into a prototype heat illness prevention system. The HIPS has been used in a prototype form with Special Forces (Ranger Assessment and Selection Program � 75th Ranger Regiment) Sapper Leader Course (169th Engineers), and with regular trainees to include 198th Infantry Brigade (Ft. Benning), Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE), and with the U.S. Marines � Marine Corps Recruiting Depot � Parris Island. While these prototypes are useful in the management and prevention of exertional heat illnesses in the training environment, they are comprised of separate technologies and do not scale to support the numbers for Marine Corps and Army training environments, requiring further science and technology to ensure that the technologies and algorithms support the scale needed.

The HIPS system is composed of core system capability with additional add on components. The key technical challenges require addressing the scale requirements provided below (threshold), and then the additional add on components (objective). The core system is comprised of an on-body sensor system and local phone status app.

On-Body Sensor System Requirements:

1)      Human factors: Wearable with minimal comfort impact and functional for extended periods of time: Threshold is 4 days, Objective is 7 Days

a)       While we do not explicitly define size/weight requirements these will be constrained by the human factors and expected wear/function times.

2)      Environment: up to 50 �C, fully immersible in water

3)      Battery life: Threshold is 4 days, Objective is 7days

4)      Communications: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

5)      Scalability: Ability to use on large Company size units simultaneously, e.g., 500 � 600 individuals

6)      Gang charging systems to manage devices in at least multiples of 25

7)      Sensors:

a)       Skin temperature (every 5s)

b)      Heart Rate Threshold is every 5s; Objective is ECG waveform

c)       3 axis accelerometry

8)      Must run Government Furnished algorithms in real time on the device to determine heat strain risk state:

a)       Estimated Core Body Temperature (ECTemp)

b)      Adaptive Physiological Strain Index (aPSI)

c)       Gait Instability Index (GInI) aka Wobble Index

d)      Heat Stroke Prediction Algorithm

e)       Exertional Heat Illness Alerting Algorithm (EHIAA)

9)      Data logging capable of storing and downloading high resolution data from all sensors exceeding the battery life time

10)  Must be manageable for Company size group by 1 or 2 staff members

 

Local Phone Applications (App):

1)      Receive and display transmissions from the On-Body Sensor System: Android (Threshold), Android and Apple (Objective)

2)      Display status for a defined set training Company personnel on individual tiles that represent the EHIAA algorithm and change colors based upon risk level

3)      Tiles ordered by EHI risk level

4)      Must have the ability to define sub-groups of personnel and display these sub-groups independently

 

Additional Capabilities (Objective):

If the Threshold requirements have been met, then the following Objective capabilities are desired.

1)      Individual Smart Watch or Phone

a)       Provide individuals with their own display of their own data

b)      Alert to pre-set thresholds based upon EHIAA, aPSI, or ECTemp

c)       Ability to track geo-location

d)      Ability to transmit heat strain state and geolocation to a web-server application through cellular communications (Threshold) or other long-range means (Objective)

e)       Provide the ability to only transmit data that by itself does not constitute either personal identifiable information (PII) nor protected health information (PHI).

2)      Web-application

a)       Display geo-location and heat strain state

b)      Allow different log-ins to provide independent events with their own view of participants

 

In addition, this effort requires the compilation of training materials and the ability to support training units in the issue and roll out of the HIPS monitoring system.

PHASE I: Develop a concept and prototype for a HIPS kit that provides technologies for real-time monitoring to prevent exertional heat illness in a training environment. Demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed concept (hardware/software HUD-centric system) to meet Marine Corps infantry needs through a set of specific Phase I deliverables. As part of Phase I the Government will provide at least one heat strain risk algorithm to support testing.

Deliverables specific to this SBIR topic (in addition to the standard Phase I deliverables identified in the DON instruction for this BAA) include: 1) an initial prototype kit; 2) documentation that kit components can achieve the request requirements listed in topic call; 3) concept of operations for how the kit will be employed by end users; and 4) human subjects testing plan for testing that will occur during Phase II.

No Human Subjects Research can be conducted as part of Phase I.

PHASE II: Based on the results of Phase I deliverables evaluation, performers will develop a working proof-of-concept of the HIPS kit for the ground forces. This phase shall include prototyping the HIPS kit, conducting critical design reviews, and demonstrating that initial capabilities are sufficient for existing training environments. The prototypes will be evaluated to determine their capability to meet ground force needs and requirements for a heat monitoring system.

Deliverables include: 1) a final bill-of-materials (BOM); 2) all component parts and specs; and 3) proof of concept devices (at least 100) for evaluation.

Human Subjects Research is expected to be conducted as part of Phase II, but may be done in partnership with a Government lab as part of ongoing active-duty service member (e.g., Marine Corps or Army) research.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Support the Marine Corps and Army with transitioning and integrating the HIPS kits into existing training environments. Assist with certifying and qualifying the HIPS kits for Marine Corps and Army use. Assist in writing Marine Corps and Army device user manual(s) and system specifications/materials. As appropriate, focus on scaling up manufacturing capabilities and commercialization plans that will extend the technology to the civilian with a focus on athletic activities � e.g., collegiate, endurance races, etc.

REFERENCES:

1.       Buller, Mark J.; Welles, Alexander P. and Friedl, Karl E.. "Wearable physiological monitoring for human thermal-work strain optimization." Journal of Applied Physiology, 124.2 (2018): 432-441.

2.       Buller, M., Fellin, R., Bursey, M., Galer, M., Atkinson, E., Beidleman, B. A., ... & Williamson, J. R. (2022). "Gait instability and estimated core temperature predict exertional heat stroke." British Journal of Sports Medicine, 56(8), 446-451.

 

KEYWORDS: Infantry; Training; Heat; Safety; Monitoring, Wearables

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