Lockheed-Martin Perspectives on Physiological Monitoring
April 11, 2012, FlexTech Workshop, San Jose, CA– Jeffrey Stuart from Lockheed-Martin presented a view on sensors from a systems integrator perspective. They are looking into physiological monitoring across a broad spectrum of parameters to determine the most suitable personnel for war fighter missions.
One issue for monitoring our military personnel is understanding the differences between health and ability to perform. Changing problems require unit commanders to change parameters and personnel to best match the required functions. In addition, monitoring systems will be used to maintain safety.
The drivers for physiological monitoring sensors include safety, situational awareness, logistics, training, and performance augmentation, especially in areas of cognition and threat awareness. These systems will be deployed across all levels of the military; theater, cockpit, work environment, etc. The base requirements for sensors are small and light, unobtrusive, autonomous, and high fidelity.
Programs for human performance augmentation (HPA) can extend physical and cognitive capabilities. In a training environment, monitoring systems can detect physical and mental limits and allow modifications in the training regime for optimal training. When integrated into a full system, HPA can be very cost effective, because the technologies are much more capable than the limits of people.
They need many types of sensors and multivariate data analysis. Ideally, physiological monitors for use flexible sensors in an array of multiple patches better integrated into the workspace and clothes. Specific requirements for these sensors are conformal, flexible, anti-fouling, and hypo-allergenic. They must also not impact communications bandwidth in theaters and for those detecting biomarkers, they must be biocompatible, non-toxic, anti-inflammatory, and must survive in a hostile environment.
The monitoring systems will need flexible batteries to drive real-time, high fidelity data collection systems that can be developed and deployed in a short time. The technologies must be capable of scaling up and must be manufacturable at low cost. Most of the manufacturing technologies are exist, but the sensors must prove their reliability in an environment of mass customization rather than mass manufacturing.
The systems integrator, Lockheed Martin partners with other manufacturers like General Electric and the various branches of the military. They perform the architectural and platform development for systems integration. Their work involves investigating sensors, developing metrics, and creating the data fusion and analytics programs. The challenges integrating diverse technologies means that the are no tools for design. As a result, they’re looking for open platforms that can be used as a testbed as well as migrate into widespread deployment.
