Real Time Physiological Status Monitor for MicroClimate Control
ID: CBD233-003Type: BOTH
Overview

Topic

Real Time Physiological Status Monitor for MicroClimate Control

Agency

Department of DefenseN/A

Program

Type: SBIRPhase: BOTHYear: 2023

Topic Link

https://www.sbir.gov/node/2448045

Additional Information

https://www.defensesbirsttr.mil/
Timeline
  1. 1
    Release Aug 23, 2023 12:00 AM
  2. 2
    Open Sep 20, 2023 12:00 AM
  3. 3
    Next Submission Due Oct 18, 2023 12:00 AM
  4. 4
    Close Oct 18, 2023 12:00 AM
Description

The Department of Defense (DoD) is seeking proposals for a research topic titled "Real Time Physiological Status Monitor for MicroClimate Control" as part of the SBIR program. The objective is to develop a ruggedized non-invasive real-time physiological status monitor (RT-PSM) that can control an Army microclimate cooling system to mitigate thermal stress injuries, increasing mission performance and system efficiency. Warfighters operating in non-permissive environments in Level 1/A Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) are vulnerable to heat injuries, and the proposed technology aims to address this issue.

The current cooling solutions under PPE utilize a cooling vest and portable vapor compression system, but they have limitations in cooling efficiency and time on target. The proposed RT-PSM will utilize a combination of sensors to measure heat stress biomarkers, such as skin temperature, core temperature, heart rate, and skin heat flux, to estimate the thermal strain. An accessible algorithm will be developed to optimize the control of the microclimate cooling system based on individual needs.

The project will be conducted in three phases. Phase I involves designing and developing the RT-PSM sensor suite, algorithm, and data acquisition module. Phase II focuses on developing an integrated sensor suite and algorithm to perform cooling functions with a simulated microclimate system. Phase III will involve ruggedization, reliability, and further algorithm optimization of the sensor solution for both Army and commercial markets.

The potential impacts of this technology extend beyond the military, as multiple industries such as construction, agriculture, and first responders also face heat stress-related injuries. The coupling of a reliable RT-PSM heat stress indicator with a microclimate cooling system would increase safety, productivity, and mission duration.

The solicitation is currently closed, and more information can be found on the DoD SBIR 23.3 BAA page on grants.gov.

Files
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