Description:
OUSD (R&E) MODERNIZATION PRIORITY: Biotechnology
TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Sensors; Electronics; Information Systems
OBJECTIVE:
Develop a solution that monitors relevant physiological markers and can alert divers of predetermined thresholds on risk. This solution includes form factor developments, accurate biomarker readings from sensors, durability for fresh, chlorinated, and salt-water environments, and on device computing to activate alerts based on predetermined thresholds.
DESCRIPTION: Despite significant safety and overwatch, fatalities of student divers occasionally occur during training, with causes unknown in some cases. It is necessary to accurately monitor student biomarkers to determine when to alert nearby instructors and safety divers as special operations diving safety is paramount. Technology enabling systems that can alert divers in multiple environments can provide another tool for the military to use to ensure safe operations in high risk, high stress environments. Desired capabilities are broken up into critical, essential, and enhancing to articulate the minimum acceptable capabilities up to fully desired capabilities for product development.
Critical (essential needs/must have):
● Accurate measurement of the following vital signs in fresh and chlorinated environments
o Heart rate tracking
- Within 5 beats of clinical-grade device
o Blood or tissue oxygen saturation - SpO2/StO2 (within 2-5% of clinical-grade device)
● Bluetooth and/or WiFi capabilities for transferring recorded data
● Capable of implementing compatibility with the USSOCOM Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS), i.e. Smartabase (API)
● 24-hour continuous runtime
● Adequate storage to capture 24 hours of critical data
Desired (strongly wanted features):
● Accurate measurement of the following vital signs in fresh, chlorinated and salad water
o Heart rate tracking
- Within 5 beats of clinical-grade device
o Blood or tissue oxygen saturation - SpO2/StO2 (within 2-5% of clinical-grade device)
● Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
o Sampling rate 500-1000Hz (can record data at a lower rate)
● Present real-time physiological data to the user on a wearable display
● Accurate measurement of water depth and ambient temperature (air or water)
● Ability to set alert thresholds (preferably by a dive instructor)
o Instructors will edit thresholds in HPDMS
● Ability to alert the wearer
o Instructors will have ability to toggle alert
● Ability to alert nearby divers underwater of the wearers alert condition
● Functional at depths up to 130ft
● Functional at water temperatures between 34O-100O F
● Accurate respiratory rate measurement in fresh, chlorinated, and saltwater environments
Enhancing (increases value to the user):
● Skin temperature measurement in fresh, chlorinated, and saltwater environments
● Core temperature measurement in fresh, chlorinated, and saltwater environments
● Ability to measure any other parameters vendors deem important
● Any other additional features vendors propose as potentially useful
Constraints:
● The device cannot interfere with training or other gear (BCD, dive computer, mask, etc.)
● The device shall minimize the use of buttons to display physiological parameters
PHASE I:
Design a proof-of-concept solution for a device capable of accurately monitoring physiological markers vendors conclude are necessary (e.g. heart rate, SpO2, etc.) which can alert divers and instructors on predetermined thresholds of risk. The design should include, but not limited to, accurate measurements of heart rate and SpO2 or StO2 (in dry, fresh, and chlorinated environments), Bluetooth and/or WiFi capabilities, battery life and memory for a 24-hour continuous runtime, and should be capable of interfacing with the Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS), i.e. Smartabase (API). The device can be standalone or integrated with standard dive equipment. Other features, capabilities, and/or solutions not addressed in this solicitation that vendors determine will be beneficial to improving safety of Army divers are encouraged.
Phase I will award $150,000 over a 3-month period of performance (PoP). The 3 month period will include several virtual sessions with TPOCs and an option to travel to San Diego to assist with refinement of a final presentation on month 3. The final presentation will take into account adjustments to approach, desire to work with other vendors to solve the proposed problem, and cost effectiveness of the solution.
Proposals will be evaluated on a holistic basis based on their relevance, total cost, developmental timeline, ability to integrate into a system of systems, modularity, compatibility with open architecture, and any additional features the proposer includes.
Companies can voluntarily participate in the Army Applications Laboratory (AAL) 12-week cohort program. The AAL cohort program is designed to solve specific Army modernization challenges on a compressed timeline. The cohort program matches qualified companies with Army problems owners to speed capability development, accelerate transition, and de-risk or inform requirements. This program is designed for businesses that own unique, applicable technology and are interested in growing a new line of business into the DoD.
The cohort program will enhance technology development through the rapid exposure to Army stakeholders and the sustainment, maneuver, and robotics acquisition communities. Planned activities include a problem topic deep dive, a field week with Army sustainment and maneuver leaders and soldiers, hands-on experience with currently fielded military equipment and weapon systems, and stakeholder engagement from the requirements writer to acquisition manager to the end-user. An example cohort program for this topic is:
Week 1 – Orientation and problem deep dive (virtual)
Week 2 – Soldier Touchpoint (in-person at a military installation)
Week 3-6 – Concept research and planning
Week 7 – Mid-point concept design brief to stakeholders and SME roundtable discussion (virtual)
Week 8-11 – Concept design refinement
Week 12 – Final concept design brief to Army Senior Leaders (virtual)
Cohort programming will be provided free of charge. Proposers that plan to participate in the cohort (if awarded a Phase I) are encouraged to include travel costs for one cohort trip, within the continental US, of 4-5 days each for in-person programming. In-person events may be substituted for virtual events depending on COVID-19 travel restrictions. Details will be provided to awardees under this topic at Phase I award.
PHASE II:
Demonstrate a prototype device capable of monitoring physiological markers, established in Phase I, which can alert divers on predetermined thresholds of risk. Vendors will have quarterly touchpoints with military stakeholders and develop said prototype to conform to listed parameters throughout the 21-month PoP. Soldier touchpoints will be provided free of charge. Proposers that plan to participate in the Soldier touchpoints (if awarded a Phase II) are encouraged to include travel costs for 7 touchpoints, within the continental US, of 1-2 days each for in-person events. It is incumbent on the vendor to provide proposed, iterative deliverables over the PoP (or sooner) to complete the identified solution. Vendors will interact with military diving experts prior to delivering physical solutions to combat divers. Potential solutions can iterate and the ability to test potential solutions with a military unit is available free of charge. Solutions will be evaluated in priority of critical, essential, and enhancing priorities. Access to military diving experts during the touchpoints for feedback is free of charge, and companies should include the estimated cost of travel (assume quarterly multi day trips to various dive training locations such as San Diego, Key West, Panama City, or Pensacola for set-up, iterative prototyping, final product delivery & testing) to these touchpoints in their budget.
In addition to the Phase II deliverable of a prototype for extended Soldier touch points, companies will provide deliverable and final reports detailing performance and associated deliverables, any iterative adjustments based on user feedback, and final product details. The final report should also include plans to adopt the solution onto a military network with associated security protocols and logical access points.
PHASE III:
The objective of Phase III, where appropriate, is for the small business to pursue commercialization objectives through the effort by improving the device and developing the technology to TRL 7 and document the final design. Companies will iterate on and deliver final prototypes, make modifications to adapt to the required COTS wearables as identified through extended Soldier touch points and create a viable prototype for combat divers in various underwater scenarios. Prototypes shall be in their final form factor, capable of being worn and used by divers, and may be subjected to environmental testing at the government’s discretion.
Phase III deliverables include integration with USSOCOM Human Performance Data Management System (HPDMS), i.e. Smartabase (API), user documentation, and prototype(s) for demonstration and government-sponsored testing.
WEBINAR DATE:
Tuesday December 13, 2022 10:00 am CT
To learn more about this topic, and ask questions of Army stakeholders involved in the project register for a webinar: https://diver-performance.eventbrite.com
The Link to the video recording of the webinar will be posted in the DSIP portal in the days following.
KEYWORDS: Human performance optimization, HPO, underwater sensors, under water, underwater, sensor, HP, high risk, high stress, combat diver, heart rate, SpO2, StO2
REFERENCES
1. Optimizing sampling rate of wrist-worn optical sensors for physiologic monitoring | Journal of Clinical and Translational Science | Cambridge Core
2. Wearable Pulse Oximeter for Swimming Pool Safety - PMC (nih.gov)
3. Frontiers | Using Underwater Pulse Oximetry in Freediving to Extreme Depths to Study Risk of Hypoxic Blackout and Diving Response Phases (frontiersin.org)
4. The Dewey Monitor: Pulse Oximetry can Warn of Hypoxia in an Immersed Rebreather Diver in Multiple Scenarios | SpringerLink
5. AAL | Resource Center
6. http://aal.army/assets/files/pdf/sbir-phase-1-template.pdf
7. http://aal.army/assets/files/pdf/sbir-optional-slide-template.pdf
