Automated, Real Time Bi-directional Communication Instrumentation of Combat Attire for Anti-Terrorism Operations Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2006.2 Topic No.: N06-149 Topic Title: Automated, Real Time Bi-directional Communication Instrumentation of Combat Attire for Anti-Terrorism Operations Proposal No.: N062-149-0057 Firm: AnthroTronix, Inc. 8737 Colesville Rd, L203 Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Contact: Corinna Lathan Phone: (301) 495-0770 Web Site: www.atinc.com Abstract: Military environments, specifically counter-terrorism and special operations, are characterized by individual and team decision makers who may be spatially (line of sight) separated and must coordinate to share information and resources to attain mission goals in dynamic and uncertain situations. The objective of this SBIR is to develop a prototype embedded Team Status and Signaling System (TS3) that can be embedded in the combat attire of the special operations dismount warfighter for real time capture of individual location and action information, as well as static and dynamic hand signals, for subsequent presentation to the unit commander and other team members in a tactical operational environment. The TS3 will include a range of sensors such as accelerometers, goniometers, magnetometers and bend and pressure sensors, as well as pattern matching algorithms for signal processing. Instrumentation of each team member could enable status information such as position, body posture, movement, and weapon status of each individual team member to be automatically collected and communicated in real time to the unit commander or other pertinent team members, increasing overall team situation awareness without distracting from the mission goals. A Phase II effort will implement vibro-tactile feedback for presentation of the data via vibratory effectors. Benefits: Voice communications over the radio only allow one member of the unit to supply a status at any given time, making it difficult for special operations warfighters and unit commanders to conceptualize the status of the operation. If the actions and/or status of each team member could be captured via instrumented sensors in a warfighter's combat attire, a real time snap shot of the status of the entire operation could be conveyed instantly to the unit commander and pertinent team members without individual team members having to send that information themselves over the radio or by entering it into a wearable computer. Additionally, real time, continuous situational data of team members would allow the unit commander to "watch" in real time the progression of the operation, communicating with individual members as needed. Additional dual use applications for this system include use by law enforcement teams and other first responders (eg. SWAT, hostage rescue, police, and fire), as well as for collaboration/control of unmanned robotic assets. Return