Researchers at the 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, are developing sensors to analyze a person’s “physical and cognitive performance” by measuring electrolytes from the person’s sweat, announced Air Force officials. The Band-Aid-like sensors will be used as “fuel gauges” to determine stress, dehydration, and other health-related issues, according to an April 15 release. “Our vision is that every airman at the beginning of their week, will be able to put on an electronic Band-Aid that will quantify everything about them,” said Dr. Josh Hagen, lead researcher. Joined with researchers at the University of Cincinnati, the team “would track [patients’] hydration levels by measuring electrolytes coming out of their sweat, and would alert them if they were trending in a direction of dehydration or heat stress,” states the release.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.