In the next few years it will be possible to build a commercially viable wristwatch sized instrument suitable for Objective Force Warrior that contains environmental sensors, motion sensing, electronics, and algorithms to predict environmental stress, sleep, performance, and life signs. The complementary sciences have been extensively developed by their respective research agencies, but have not been integrated into in a single instrument. Continuous day and night time human activity modeling and environmentally driven thermodynamic algorithms provide the basis for a physiologic model that may predict metabolic expenditures, and indirectly estimate core temperature variability for specific activities. The proposed Programmable Wrist-Worn Environmental Stress Monitor will provide the wearer with estimates of stress and strain as defined, and overall fitness for duty throughout the day. The instrument will accomplish this by: 1) Measuring the daily ambient environment and estimating work rate, 2) Continuously estimating sleep and recording sleep history, 3) Applying stress/strain and performance algorithms, and displaying the results.
Benefits: A wrist worn stress monitor augmented with sleep and performance estimates would represent a major breakthrough in individualized assessment of safety and fitness for duty. Environmental stressors combined with high metabolic load can be dangerous, and a simple way to warn the wearer of impending danger should have wide appeal to those engaged in vigorous activity in adverse climates. Athletes, soldiers, anyone required to work in stressful environments can suffer debilitation manifest by poor performance, serious injury or death. The proposed device may provide an early warning of potential distress or poor performance so that remedial action may be taken.
Keywords: Environmental Stress Monitor, Actigraphy, Sleep Scoring, Performance, Objective Force Warrior, Thermoregulatory Model
