N232-083 TITLE: Helicopter Seat-Integrated Power Assist Device

OUSD (R&E) CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human-Machine Interfaces

OBJECTIVE: Develop a seat-integrated power assist device that reduces low back pain and improves aircrew endurance by effectively reducing the weight of torso-mounted Personal Safety Equipment (PSE).

DESCRIPTION: The musculoskeletal burden of prolonged and repeated exposure to torso-mounted PSE has been tied to an increase in the number of complaints of fatigue and chronic low back pain among helicopter pilots. One survey of 648 Navy H-60 helicopter pilots indicated that 88.1% had experienced back and/or neck pain during or immediately after flight [Ref 1]. Fatigue and chronic back pain lead to a reduction in pilot availability, reduced operational readiness and effectiveness, shortened careers, and increased medical costs over the career and life of the aviator.

Although helicopter pilots� fatigue and low back pain are most likely attributable to several factors that include PSE weight, poor posture, seating ergonomics, vibration of the aircraft during flight, and total number of flight hours, the weight of torso-mounted PSE is considered a leading contributor to naval and military aviators� fatigue and low back pain.

This SBIR effort will be focused on the development and integration of technologies that will substantially reduce (> 70%) the effective weight of PSE. Technologies and design concepts will focus on reducing the frequency and severity of fatigue and back pain among naval aviators that must wear up to 45 lb (20.41 kg) of PSE during their flights. The main goal of the resulting technology is to protect the musculoskeletal health of naval aviators, increase their mission endurance, and to reduce the incidence of low back injuries.

Given that the H-60 type, model, series (TMS) platform is widely used across multiple services (Navy, Army, Air Force, and Special Operations Command), the program plan for this effort calls for the use of the H-60 TMS as the testbed for flight demonstration of the system. The burden of torso-mounted PPE is not unique to the H-60 platform; technology borne out of this effort is expected to be portable to other rotary-wing platforms and fixed-wing non-ejection aircraft seating systems.

It is intended that the system will:

(a) be compatible with aviator/operator body-borne mission equipment and vests,

(b) not cause a substantial increase in weight of the seating system,

(c) be retro-fittable into the H-60 pilot seat and airframe without aircraft modifications,

(d) avoid diminishment of crash performance and occupant protection of the baseline seat,

and avoid:

(a) increasing muscle activity in the torso,

(b) increasing energy expenditure (metabolic cost),

(c) reducing range of motion,

(d) impeding motion,

(e) increasing discomfort due to localized contact pressure,

(f) reducing task performance,

(g) inhibiting emergency egress, and

(h) creating abnormal spinal loading.

The goal of this effort is to develop and qualify an assistive device that reduces the load of PSE borne by military pilots. Successful completion of the work tasks outlined for each phase is designed to incrementally and iteratively build toward a qualified system.

Note: NAVAIR will provide Phase I awardees with the appropriate guidance required for human research protocols so that they have the information to use while preparing their Phase II Initial Proposal. Institutional Review Board (IRB) determination as well as processing, submission, and review of all paperwork required for human subject use can be a lengthy process. As such, no human research will be allowed until Phase II and work will not be authorized until approval has been obtained, typically as an option to be exercised during Phase II.

PHASE I: Design and develop concepts that allow for integration of the Power Assist Device (PAD) into the SH-60S seating system and component level testing to assess the feasibility and utility of the PAD system. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II.

PHASE II: Develop a prototype PAD system based on the results of Phase I and integrate into the SH-60S seat with minimal modifications to the pilot seat. Perform laboratory testing to demonstrate prototype is capable of off-loading the weight of PSE onto the pilot seat by at least 70% without increasing muscle activity in the torso, without creating or increasing any other adverse physiological condition, and without reducing the occupant�s range of motion. Develop plans and obtain approval for human-in-the-loop testing that will be conducted during the Phase II option period.

Note: Please refer to the statement included in the Description above regarding human research protocol for Phase II.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Further refine the PAD system design based on human testing, install on host helicopter and conduct flight testing to demonstrate PAD integrated seat can meet Navy requirements. The U.S. Government intends to conduct a wide range of testing to certify that the performance of this system warrants use onboard Navy aircraft. Broadly, the Government intends to conduct the following system levels tests in order to qualify the PAD: (a) system performance testing, (b) user acceptance testing, (c) service life characterization testing, (d) environmental exposure testing, and (e) flight demonstration testing.

As the system is designed to reduce effective torso-borne weight, services with heavy PSE will realize the greatest benefit; commercial operators with minimal body-borne equipment will have a reduced benefit from the system.

REFERENCES:

1. Phillips, A. S. (2011). The scope of back pain in Navy helicopter pilots [Master�s thesis, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey CA]. DTIC. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA543155.pdf
2. Bongers, P. M., Hulshof, C. T. J., Dljkstra, L., Boshuizen, H. C., Groenhout, H. J. M., & Valken, E. (1990). Back pain and exposure to whole body vibration in helicopter pilots. Ergonomics, 33(8), 1007-1026. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139008925309
3. Cunningham, L. K., Docherty, S., & Tyler, A. W. (2010). Prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in rotary wing aviation pilots. Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, 81(8), 774-778. https://doi.org/10.3357/ASEM.2736.2010
4. Healing, R. F., & Hamon, K. (2014, May 20�22). Eliminating avoidable helicopter seating-related injuries to improve combat readiness and mission effectiveness [Paper presentation]. American Helicopter Society International 70th Annual Forum, Quebec, Canada. https://vtol.org/store/product/eliminating-avoidable-helicopter-seatingrelated-injuries-to-improve-combat-readiness-and-mission-effectiveness-9482.cfm-injuries-to-improve-combat-readiness-and-mission-effectiveness-9482.cfm

KEYWORDS: Pilot Back Pain; helicopter seats, endurance; aircrew; Personal Survival Equipment; PSE; torso-mounted equipment

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