Helmet prototype for G-LOC prevention
Project objectives
The project's goal is to develop a helmet prototype capable of continuously recording several physiological parameters of military aircraft pilots (such as electroencephalography, electrooculography, electrocardiogram, electromyography, heart rate, blood pressure, arterial oxygen saturation, etc.) in order to predict the onset of G-LOC (G-force induced loss of consciousness), i.e., the loss of consciousness in flight caused by accelerations or decelerations of 8, 9, or 10 times the force of gravity (G). This type of problem, known for several years, is responsible for numerous flight accidents which, if they occur at low altitude, cause the military aircraft to crash to the ground, killing the pilot. Although all military pilots have been undergoing specific training for the prevention of G-LOC for several years and use special equipment, such as anti-G-LOC suits, to minimize the risk, nevertheless, especially with the high power output of modern fighter jets deployed by the air forces of all countries around the world, at least one episode of G-LOC is reported by 8-20% of military pilots during their career. All clinical studies conducted have demonstrated that loss of consciousness, G-LOC, is preceded by a few seconds of functional alterations that can be detected by multiparametric recording systems such as those envisaged in this project.
Project start and end date
January 2017 - December 2020
Scientific manager
Prof. Bruno Beomonte Zobel
Coordinating institution of the project
Sapienza University of Rome
Other institutions involved
Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Brainy Solution Enterprises
Funding source
National Military Research Plan 2014
