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Vertical Accelerator for Visual-Vestibular Acuity Testing and Training

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Office of the Secretary of Defense 		Award ID:
78609 		Program Year/Program:
2008 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
O052-H13-3141 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Dynamic Structures and Materials, LLC
205 Williamson Square Franklin, TN -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 2
Fiscal Year: 2008
Title: Vertical Accelerator for Visual-Vestibular Acuity Testing and Training
Agency / Branch: DOD / OSD
Contract: N00014-08-C-0031
Award Amount: $749,998.00
 

Abstract:

Military personnel are often subjected to significant vertical acceleration while carrying out their duties. Such acceleration can interfere with the individual's ability to view platform-fixed displays by inducing spatial disorientation and/or motion sickness. The resulting decrease in personnel performance arises from head movements and posture-maintaining muscle coordination that are the body's response to vestibular-ocular reflexes. Suppression of these reflexes can lead to improved functional performance; repeated exposure to vertical linear motions can desensitize a person from these natural reflexes. The development of a vertical linear accelerator (VLA) system will enable researchers to accurately test for, evaluate, and even provide rehabilitation for the effects of vertical acceleration on the vestibular-ocular reflexes. In the Phase I effort, Dynamic Structures and Materials (DSM) produced a 1/3rd scale VLA prototype using linear motors and air bearing technologies that tracked commanded position within +/-100 microns at speeds up to 7 ft/s. Operational frequencies of up to 4 Hz were demonstrated. Velocity tracking was within 0.9% of the commanded velocity. Sound measurements were within ambient noise levels. DSM proposes this Phase II effort to develop and install a full-scale VLA that will provide an important training and testing tool for both screening and desensitization applications.

Principal Investigator:

Jeffrey Paine
Chief Manager
6155956665
jpaine@dynamic-structures.com

Business Contact:

Murray Johns
V.P. Operations
6155956665
mjohns@dynamic-structures.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

DYNAMIC STRUCTURES & MATERIALS, LLC
205 Williamson Square Franklin, TN 37064

EIN/Tax ID: 621736146
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No