Mental and physical fatigue, as well as stress, are significant problems that impact the cognitive and physiological performance of warfighter personnel due to long-duration missions, mental exertion and cognitive overload. The austere environments impose unique causes of fatigue on warfighter and limits countermeasure capabilities. Warfighter-related fatigue can become chronic, leading to reduced health and compounded stress. Currently, the DoD does not require physiological monitoring of warfighter to identify decrements due to fatigue. The primary focus of this effort is to develop wearable systems to continuously monitor biometrics of fatigue and stress using electrophysiological (EEG/EMG/EOG) modalities and biomarkers of stress such as cortisol, DHEA-s, epinephrine, NPY, etc. in interstitial fluid (ISF). The secondary focus of this effort is to develop wearable augmentation technologies to counter fatigue and stress while considering and addressing austere environmental challenges. The potential solutions developed in this effort should be low power, flexible, affordable, and manufacturable at scale. In addition, technology developers should take appropriate measures and make relevant improvements to address potential austere environmental challenges. These wearable technologies will ultimately be utilized in the field not only by the warfighter personnel but also firefighters, emergency responders, NASA and civilian astronauts, expedition crews, medical personnel, etc. to assess, augment, and optimize cognitive and physical performance.

An offeror may submit no more than one white paper. If the offeror is selected to submit a full proposal, the offeror my submit no more than one technical and one cost proposal. Interested applicants from within Duke should contact dukeiln@duke.edu as early as possible.

Deadline for White Papers: Feb. 28, 2022