Attach_8_-_Task_Order_3_-_Aerospace_Physiology_and_Performance_Research_(APPR)_SOO.pdf

Task Order 3 - Statement of Objectives Aerospace Physiology & Performance Research (APPR)

1.0 Background

Modern warfighters often operate in extreme environments under extreme conditions, with accompanying extreme physiological stressors, including intense accelerations (advanced aircraft maneuvering and ejections); blasts and impulses (e.g., mines, IEDs, crashes); vehicular vibrations; and high-altitude operations necessitating oxygen and breathing support systems (e.g., OBOGS, masks, and breathing regulators). These stressors pose obvious biological and physiological safety risks, but also have strong implications for operator cognition and performance.

Further, next generation aircraft and associated warfighter technologies present additional physiological risks and threats for the aircrew due to their higher cabin altitudes and complex G environments. New and improved On-Board Oxygen Generating Systems (OBOGS), related oxygen systems, and life support technologies are needed to facilitate combat readiness and ensure warfighter safety. With these newer aircrew life support and performance technologies, there are serious challenges to maintain an acceptable level of safety and performance for the expanded crewmember population. New and improved protection and life support technologies, safety devices and personal protective gear, and advanced computational modeling capabilities are needed to facilitate combat readiness and ensure warfighter safety.

2.0 Scope

Research is needed to more accurately ascertain the influence of new air and ground vehicles, new protection gear and restraint configurations, and the shifting aircrew population on the mechanisms of aircrew head/neck/spinal injury and restraint dynamics when exposed to acceleration stressors, and on the criteria needed to accurately ascertain injury susceptibility. In addition, the effects of acute as well as chronic physiological stressors on the aircrew need to be understood, investigated, and mitigated.

The contractor shall conduct research, development, test, and evaluation in the area of On-Board Oxygen Generating Systems (OBOGS) and oxygen systems related technologies. The effort will include breathing systems technologies, breathing regulators, oxygen masks, liquid oxygen systems, solid electrolyte oxygen separators, high pressure oxygen systems, oxygen storage technologies, and life support sensors. OBOGS testing and evaluation is needed to assess performance under extreme operating conditions, such as, high altitude, changes in available air flow available to the system, and exposure to possible chemical or other contaminants in the oxygen supply system.

Examples of new life support and aircrew technologies include helmet and head-mounted systems, protective and survival gear, cockpit or workstation designs, seating and restraint systems, personal safety devices, and protective gear. The extreme environments these systems will be subjected to include (but are not limited

to) crashes, impacts, adverse accelerations, high altitudes, high pressure, low oxygen, high winds, moisture and temperature, shocks, blasts, vibration, ejection and escape, and tactical ground-based maneuvering, as applicable to warfighter safety and protection. This task focuses on providing the technical expertise and capabilities to develop computational models, and design, evaluate, and validate advanced equipment concepts that ensure the safety and protection of crew members in extreme environments that challenge traditional warfighter capability and survivability. For new tech designs, development of mock-ups, prototypes, lab testing, field testing, are to be utilized as needed.

3.0 Technical Requirements

• Conduct both laboratory and operational studies to evaluate the performance, safety, and protection efficacy of current, modified, and new human-system interfaces targeted for use in physiologically-challenging environments encountered during military and related ground, air, and space operations.

Human interfaces include but are not limited to: helmet systems, protective equipment and survival gear, seating systems, restraints and harnesses, energy attenuation systems, as well as mask and breathing support systems including current, modified, and new OBOGS and related oxygen systems for military ground, air, and space operations.

• Collect, process, and analyze aircraft oxygen system performance data acquired in the laboratory or field will be required. Data collection from chemical diagnostic equipment may also be required.

• Perform collection, processing, and analysis of anthropometric, physical, biological, physiological, cognitive, and psychological data acquired in the laboratory or field. For new tech designs, development of mock-ups, prototypes, lab testing, field testing, are to be utilized as needed.

• Conduct analysis, modeling, and simulation to investigate oxygen systems performance over various operating conditions, including chemical contaminant challenge, and varying environments that may affect expected system operation or output.

• Conduct advanced computational modeling to support the generation of new model parameters and injury limits for the expanded crew member population.

Injury risk models and injury criteria shall include but not be limited to: Dynamic Response Index (DRI), Multi-axial Dynamic Response Criteria (MDRC), Articulated Total Body (ATB) model, JSF Neck Injury Criteria (NIC), new USAF Multi-Axial Neck Injury Criteria (MANIC), and other spinal and head injury criteria and biodynamic load limits.

• Develop experimental test plans (including flight test planning) and Institutional Review Board (IRB) human use research protocols as well as acquire and set up special laboratory and test facility equipment to meet test program objectives.

• Perform test setup, test operation, data collection, data plotting, and data analysis and reporting to meet test program research objectives.

4.0 Operations Security (OPSEC)

The contractor shall provide OPSEC protection for all sensitive/critical information as defined by AFI 10-701 (Operations Security), the 711 HPW OPSEC Plan, and critical information list. The contractor shall participate in the 711 HPW sustained

OPSEC awareness training or include OPSEC training as part of their ongoing security program. The 711 HPW OPSEC coordinator will evaluate the OPSEC posture of AF contract activities and operations.

5.0 Additional Requirements

• Highest Security Classification: Unclassified

• Deliverables

Reports: CDRLs: A001, A002, A003, A004, A005, A006, A007, A008, A009, A010, A012, A016, A017, A018, A019, A021 o Software: Laboratory software will be developed and delivered o Hardware: Lab prototype hardware

• ITAR: Applicable

• Available Base Support/Facilities: The contractor will be provided access to the following Building 824 and Building 840 laboratory facilities to conduct research:

o Collaborative Biomechanics Data Network (CBDN) database o Horizontal Impact Accelerator (HIA) o Vertical Drop Tower (VDT) o Vertical Impact Device (VID) o Vertical Impulse Accelerator (VIA) o Helmet Impact Facilities o Six Degree-of-Freedom Vibration System (SIXMODE) o Single-Axis Servohydraulic Vibration Facility o On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS) Laboratory

• GFP/GFI: None

• Flight Test: Yes

• Human Use: Yes

• Animal Use: No

• Hazardous Materials: Hydraulic Machinery, Nitrogen and Compressed Air

Tanks/Storage & Use, Chemical Lockers

• Radioactive Materials: No

• Period of Performance: 60 months technical plus 3 months for Final

Technical Report (63 month POP)

• Estimated Funding Profile: The estimated funding for this task order is:

Fiscal Year FY1 FY2 FY3 FY4 FY5 Total

Total Amount $2.0M $2.0M $2.0M $2.0M $2.0M $10.0M