Human Performance Research Department Grant: Wearable Systems for Cognitive Enhancement in Extreme Environments

The primary focus of this effort is to develop wearable systems to continuously monitor biometrics of fatigue and stress using electrophysiological (EEG/EMG/EOG) modalities and biomarkers of stress such as cortisol, DHEA-s, epinephrine, NPY, etc. in interstitial fluid (ISF). In conjunction with these primary sensing modalities of interest, technologies developed in this effort may include other metrics of stress such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), SpO2, StO2, ScO2, respiration, core body temperature, blood pressure, facial feature extraction, etc. to enhance the accuracy and precision of the determination of fatigue and stress. The secondary focus of this effort is to develop wearable augmentation technologies to counter fatigue and stress while considering and addressing austere environmental challenges. Technologies to counter fatigue and environmental stressors may include noninvasive vagal nerve stimulation, transcranial direct current stimulation, appropriate chemical stimulants, etc. The technologies developed in this effort should demonstrate at least TRL 5 level maturity at completion.

A 50/50 Cost share is required to participate in this Cooperative Agreement. The Recipient must provide the other $23,000,000 as cost share for a total of $46,000,000.