LUNA LABS USA LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N212-109

Description

Life preserver units (LPU) serve to aid Rotary Wing Naval Aircrew in water survival situations. However, current LPU designs require the crewman to be capable and conscious for inflating the device by manual activation or oral inflation. Lack of consciousness or incapacitating injury has unfortunately led to the loss of life. LPU's are worn around the collar of the aircrew and are activated once the crewman has egressed from the aircraft with a pull tab rapidly inflating the LPU with CO2. If manual activation fails, oral inflation of the LPU is possible Currently, automatic LPU inflation mechanisms are available for ejection seat aircraft and shipboard use. However, these solutions lack both the sensor and logic capability to determine if aircrew are located within the airframe before activation. Therefore, a critical need exists for an improved, innovative design that provides reliable automatic deployment of the LPU once egressed from the aircraft. Luna proposes the development of an advanced multi-modal sensor technology with an enhanced ability to assess aircrew location and on-board logic processes to initiate inflation when safe. Through this technology the Navy will reliably field an LPU capable of assisting those who are incapacitated or untrained in surviving a water survival situation.