Award Data

During altitude-induced hypoxia, operator cognitive and physical capacity degrades, compromising individual and team performance. Cognitive degradation is linked to falling brain energy levels, increased reliance on anaerobic energy production and lactate accumulation. Ketones are the evolutionary alternative substrate to glucose for brain metabolic requirements; previous studies demonstrated that ...

Special Operations Forces (SOF) operators are among the most elite, and highly qualified individuals in the U.S. military. Extraordinary physical and mental demands are placed upon them, to include superior performance standards, high operational tempos, and the pressure to excel in extreme environments for extended periods of time. In the SOF community, serious injuries are the norm rather than t ...

This expansion effort will enable SoarTech to harden the C-CHAT prototype for use during field exercises and increase the current 4 TRL to a 7 TRL. Working with partners at the USMC Field Medical Training Battalion (FMTB) and the University of Central Florida (UCF), we will enhance C-CHAT to run as a stand-alone application on a DoD-approved Android smartphone (e.g., the Samsung Galaxy S20 Tactica ...

As the carry and protective gear of the modern war fighter increases, the burden on the human body will necessarily increase. In our present TALOS MkIII project, we are developing lower body augmentation to preserve speed and agility while bearing this weight. Yet we cannot ignore the impact of this weight on the upper body: in this project we propose to develop an upper body exoskeleton with p ...

A critical aspect of exoskeleton control that has to date introduced a performance limitation is the ability of the exoskeleton to recognize the intent of the operator so it can apply assistance to their desired motion. This intent recognition effort is typically solved using ad-hoc methods where subject matter experts make design decisions and tune transitions to identify intended maneuvers as re ...

Special OperationsForces (SOF)are an integral aspect of the US military. SOF operators are among the most elite and highly qualified individuals in the U.S.military. As such, extraordinary physical and mental demands are placed upon them to excel in extreme environments for extended periods of time. This unrelenting cycle of combat deployments and intense pre-deployment training shortens the funct ...

Artificial intelligence-assisted detection and imaging technology can gather data on underwater, surface, and aerial threats to gain situational awareness over opposing forces, and aids in navigating dangerous marine and terrestrial environments. Successful and efficient use of intel is crucial for strategic information warfare, but many current technologies require active monitoring to identify t ...

In Phase I MER demonstrated the superior performance and power-to-weight ratios of the VS-Rotary engine. In Phase II MER will team with the University of Arizona who will provide engine modeling, simulation, and analysis along with advanced precision machining and fabrication. MER will also team with NCE of Tucson to provide test and systems integration development of the engine to the applicatio ...

Effective hearing protection is essential for service members who work in hazardous noise environments and for whom permanent or even temporary hearing damage affects performance, endangers lives, and reduces quality of life. Various devices have been developed to attenuate high levels of impulse and continuous noise while allowing low-level sounds to pass through. However, issues with comfort, ea ...

Service members need head protection that goes beyond the impact protection provided by their helmets. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can last years with severe consequences. Repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) can affect performance and build to permanent damage. Monitoring impact and blast exposure will enable the military to protect service members’ health by evaluating the effectiven ...