The Air Force Research Laboratory hosted a two-day event in Dayton, Ohio, for military and industry representatives to discuss research and development of sensing platforms designed to collect aviators' physiological data.
More than 150 people from the U.S. Air Force, Navy and the private sector attended the Physiological Episodes Mitigation Technology Summit and Industry Day that took place at the Wright Brothers Institute’s Small Business Hub, USAF said Friday.
James Christensen, an AFRL team lead, said the service branch seeks to update or add a new technology via the Integrated Cockpit Sensing program.
“We are considering the needs of legacy platforms while also influencing early design of new aircraft to better accommodate sensing of the pilot’s physical state and ensure their ability to fly safely and accomplish the mission,” Christensen added.
USAF has observed a surge in physiological episodes, partly due to aging aircraft units, while the Navy has monitored PEs over the past decade.
Brig. Gen. Gregor Leist, lead for the Air Force Physiological Episodes Action Team, said both service branches share data on the matter.
