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Real Time Physiological Status Monitoring

New military wearable technology will provide soldiers and small unit leaders with actionable information needed to ensure individual and squad performance readiness.

Dismounted, foot-mobile soldiers currently use a wide variety of wearable technologies, e.g., GPS (global positioning system) /PNT (position, navigation, timing), night vision goggles (NVGs), rangefinders, radios, other Nett Warrior items, etc. These wearable technologies, i.e., electronic systems carried and used by soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, constitute the individual soldier’s technological ecosystem.

Real-time physiological status monitors (RT-PSM) are an important new category of modern military wearable technologies. RT-PSM wearables fill a gap by providing individual soldiers and their immediate leadership with actionable physiological status information needed to ensure individual and squad health and performance/ readiness. This survey of accomplishments, requirements and research roadmaps identifies what RT-PSM is and is not, how current capabilities can be used in current programs of record, and where future research should focus.

The primary soldier platform (i.e., Nett Warrior system) is complimented by several wearable applications. RTPSM is one such application, and it provides readiness status information to small unit leaders. This information, as well as decision assist tools to the individual soldier and small unit leader, represent “exobrain capabilities,” i.e., knowledge gained from wearables or the web that enhance but do not replace good leader training and intuition.

The Army has a long history of research and development on wearable physiological monitoring systems. Notable accomplishments include the development of a commercial criterion, FDA-certified wearable research tool (Equivital, EQ-02). This system has been used extensively for field data acquisitions and refinement of algorithms and concepts of operation in various applications, beginning with thermal-work strain monitoring as the first component of a small unit leader readiness status indicator.

To date, the greatest payoff resulting from the development of this PSM system has been the ability to obtain physiological data on soldiers and marines in training and operational environments performing their normal functions under stressful conditions not easily reproducible in the laboratory. These datasets have helped guide changes in USMC work/rest doctrine, e.g., USMC rest procedures where half the squad opens up armor to accelerate cooling while the other half guards, then trades; USMC reduction in soft armor to facilitate cooling; and development of the body armor protection level (BAPL) concept and the development of concepts of operations (CONOPS) for the use of real time physiological readiness information of value to the soldier and small unit leaders. Several implementations of the RT-PSM based on thermal-work strain monitoring are underway, including technology transitions through the National Guard Bureau (NGB) and the Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier Integrated Soldier Sensor System (ISSS) program.

Capabilities to monitor readiness status of friendly forces, especially for a small unit leader, can expand rapidly once a DoD-centric open-architected PSM platform is in place for soldiers in operational environments. Near-term targets include alertness/fitness for duty and musculoskeletal status (fatigue and impending musculoskeletal injury). Mid-term targets include neurocognitive status (mood and cognitive states) and in the longer-term, host defense responses (anticipation of impending illness). Existing technologies (i.e., sensors, predictive algorithms) make these readiness indicators feasible, but a concerted R&D program is required, which includes a commitment to the development and implementation of a common wireless PSM infrastructure. Beyond detection and status monitoring, RT-PSM has multiple applications, notably a decision support tool that would provide near-and long-term courses of action tailored to the individual.

Long-term applications and objectives of this research include: casualty monitoring capabilities for the medic, health behavior self-monitoring tools for the soldier, and environmental exposure documentation for force health protection.

This work was done by Karl E. Friedl, Mark J. Buller, William J. Tharion, Adam W. Potter, Glen L. Manglapus, and Reed W. Hoyt for the Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. ARL-0226

Topics:
Aerospace Biosensors Consumer electronics Data Acquisition Defense Defense industry Detectors Diagnosis Electronic control systems Electronic equipment Health Monitors and Activity Trackers Measuring Instruments Medical equipment and supplies Medical, health and wellness Medical, health, and wellness Military vehicles and equipment Military vehicles and equipment Monitoring Navigation and guidance systems Physical examination Protective clothing Protective equipment Protective systems Sensors Sensors and actuators Test & Measurement Vehicles Vehicles Wearables Wearables
This Brief includes a Technical Support Package (TSP).
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Real Time Physiological Status Monitoring

(reference ARL-0226) is currently available for download from the TSP library.

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    Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine

    This article first appeared in the April, 2020 issue of Aerospace & Defense Technology Magazine (Vol. 5 No. 2).

    Read more articles from this issue here.

    Read more articles from the archives here.

    Overview

    The document is a technical report focused on Real Time Physiological Status Monitoring (RT-PSM) within the U.S. Army, detailing research accomplishments, current requirements, and future directions for physiological monitoring technologies. It is structured into several sections, beginning with an executive summary and an introduction that sets the context for the research.

    The first section highlights key Army research accomplishments in wearable systems, emphasizing the evolution of these technologies and their applications in enhancing soldier safety and performance. Notable advancements include the development of the Ranger Overwatch PSM (ROPSM), thermometer pill technology for monitoring body temperature, and systems for medical casualty detection. The report also discusses the importance of risk predictions based on environmental conditions and the integration of thermal monitoring algorithms to make data actionable.

    The second section outlines the requirements for current physiological status monitoring efforts, identifying gaps in existing technologies and the need for improved data interpretation. It emphasizes collaboration with other organizations working in this space to enhance the effectiveness of PSM systems.

    The third section, titled "Way Forward - PSM 2030," presents a vision for the future of physiological monitoring. It discusses the next-generation needs for sensors and predictive models that can enhance readiness status assessments for soldiers. The report stresses the importance of integrating advanced technologies to provide real-time data to commanders, medics, and other personnel involved in soldier health and safety.

    Throughout the document, there is a strong emphasis on the ethical considerations of research, particularly regarding the protection of human subjects, as outlined in Army regulations. The report concludes with final comments on the importance of continued research and development in this field to ensure the well-being of soldiers in various operational environments.

    Overall, the document serves as a comprehensive overview of the current state and future potential of physiological status monitoring technologies in the Army, highlighting the critical role these advancements play in enhancing soldier performance and safety.

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