Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) United States Army Futures Command Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (CCDC-SC) Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E) Market Research OVERVIEW: This announcement constitutes a Request for Information (RFI). The Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E) program is conducting a market research and assessment of industry capabilities of Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) technology. Assessment will be based on emerging technologies that have a demonstrated ability to measure Soldier physiological, physical, or cognitive metrics, processes, or performance while in operationally relevant training environments. Sensor technologies with a demonstrated ability to measure squad performance measures and metrics are of interest. The implementation of the technologies under consideration will allow for the monitoring of Soldier/Squad performance in training and operations; and will provide data streams that integrate into unique data collection, architecture, portrayal, and analysis needs. The ultimate goal through the use of Soldier worn sensors and associated data analysis algorithms is to provide the means to objectively and holistically measure Soldier and Squad performance for light infantry combat units (e.g., 11B MOS) to enhance training and operations as well as facilitate acquisition decisions. Specific details on technologies of interest are provided below and should be thoroughly reviewed to ensure your submittal meets the specific requirements and criteria before responding. The MASTR-E Program Management team will review all RFI documents. Candidate technologies of interest, meeting the RFI criteria, may be invited to participate in a MASTR-E Industry Day event. The due date for responses to this RFI is 12:00PM EST on 10 JAN 2020. ABOUT Measuring and Advancing Soldier Tactical Readiness and Effectiveness (MASTR-E) MASTR-E began as a grassroots partnership with the 82nd Airborne Division to identify the human performance "x-factors" that reliably account for sustained dismounted performance. In 2018, MASTR-E executed a pilot study demonstrating an integrated, multi-disciplinary approach to measure human performance across cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and health domains before, during, and after a 72-hour live fire training event. The pilot study involved nine Science and Technology (S&T) organizations, with more than 100 scientists and engineers collecting over 200 metrics per volunteer. Following the pilot study, The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - Soldier Center (CCDC SC) developed a five (5) year, FY20-FY24, S&T program led by CCDC SC. The MASTR-E program addresses the problem that the Army has limited means to objectively and holistically measure Soldier/Squad performance, leading to sub-optimal operational, training, and acquisition decisions. This program addresses the need for close combat units to have the cognitive and physical skills, resiliency, fitness and overall health that provides lethality and survivability while operating in a fight tonight scenario. The MASTR-E program will deliver the capability to monitor, predict, and enhance close combat performance and requires the unified effort of infantry squads, scientists, and engineers across the DoD, industry, and academia. The MASTR-E program is aligned with the vision of the Close Combat Lethality Task Force (CCLTF) Office of the Secretary Defense (OSD), and is one (1) of the six (6) Army Futures Command (AFC) Modernization Priorities; Soldier Lethality, and two (2) of the Synthetic Training Environment. The MASTR-E program is executing an S&T program to demonstrate an integrated, multi-disciplined approach to measure the human performance x-factors that reliably account for sustained dismount performance. This program will: - Down-select human performance measures that correlate with tactical task performance (shoot, move, decide, communicate, etc.) - Develop human performance predictive algorithms and decision aids that apply to acquisition, training, and operational communities - Develop integrated suite of sensors to measure physiological status of warfighters and inform individual and leader decision making and intervention - Develop and provide enhanced marksmanship training methodologies and recommendations - Quantify individual measures of performance and squad performance measures of effectiveness The MASTR-E program will also investigate targeted cognitive and physical enhancement methods to accelerate training and improve mission task performance. These measures and algorithms will be feeders into military relevant data visualization, performance tracking and reporting tools, common communications platforms and situational awareness tools (i.e., Squad Performance Model, Nett Warrior). One technical objective of the MASTR-E program is to develop/provide an integrated suite of sensors to measure physiological and cognitive status of warfighters to inform individual and leader decision making and intervention strategies. Candidate areas of interest include measures and metrics surrounding; decision making, cognitive and physical resilience, focus/attention, stress, and squad cohesion. SUBMISSION PROCESS AND DUE DATE: To respond to this RFI, please complete the attached Submission Form and a white paper, NOT TO EXCEED three (3) PAGES, with additional pertinent information (details for the white paper submission can be found under "Information of Interest" within each section below). Send submissions and white papers via e-mail to: contact@example.gov Please do not attach marketing brochures, test reports, or other extraneous materials to your Submission Form as they will not be reviewed. The due date for responses to this RFI is 12:00PM EST on 10 JAN 2020. If your technology is of interest based on this RFI, the MASTR-E Program Management Team may contact you with an invitation to further share information in an Industry Day Event that will occur in 2020. All companies that submit a white paper and submission form will be notified of Industry Day invitation/non-invitation decisions by 21 JAN 2020. IMPORTANT NOTICE: This RFI is issued for the purpose of determining market capability of sources and does not constitute an Invitation for Bid (IFB), a Request for Proposal (RFP), a Request for Quote (RFQ) or an indication that the Government will contract for any of the items and/or services contained in this notice. No solicitation document exists at this time. All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses may not include Classified material. Responses to this notice will not be returned. No reimbursement will be made for any costs to provide information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests. Information contained herein is based on the best information available at the time for publication, is subject to revision, and is not binding upon the Government. TOPIC AREAS UNDER CONSIDERATION: BASELINE TECHNOLOGY AND SCENARIO ACROSS ALL TOPIC AREAS: Technologies shall be able to integrate with existing Soldier borne clothing and individual equipment and be suitable for use in field training exercises. (1) SOLDIER PERFORMANCE MONITORING DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: Sensors and algorithms that monitor or predict musculoskeletal injury, agility, physical or cognitive fatigue and recovery, alertness, emotional state - Sensors that can be networked to provide a holistic view of the Soldier and surroundings. - Sensors robust to challenging field collection environments that provide real-time data without impeding the Soldier. - Ability to easily synchronize different sensor types (e.g., modality, manufacturer, communication technology) is a major gap. (2) COGNITIVE AGILITY & RESILIENCY There is a need to monitor Soldier cognitive performance during training activities. Verifiable sensing and analysis during real time training activities is needed. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Degree of sensory or information "overload" - Vigilance in field context - Foci of attention (Soldier focus) - Situational awareness - Measures of individual cognitive capacity and capabilities - Measuring stress, eustress, distress (3) CONTINUOUS PHYSIOLOGICAL MONITORING There is a need to monitor non-invasively physiological attributes of physical and cognitive states beyond heart rate and respiration during training activities. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Continuous non-invasive biomarker monitoring (e.g. cortisol, lactate) - Cognitive fatigue - Physical fatigue (4) GPS TRACKING There is a need to monitor Soldier and Squad position and location to inform on squad dynamics. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Position data to 0.5m accuracy outdoors. - Algorithms for processing GPS ensemble data to derive metrics of squad aggregation and dispersion. (5) TEXT ANALYTICS There is a need to monitor Soldier communication to inform on squad dynamics. Sensing and analysis of communication of what is being said, when, and by who during an operational task is required. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Real time communication tracking, transcription. - Semantic analytics. (6) EYE TRACKING IN AUGMENTED REALITY / VIRTUAL REALITY One technical objective within the MASTR-E program is to develop data-driven metrics and methodologies to inform the design of Soldier augmented reality (AR) information portrayal through real-time monitoring of perceptual and cognitive process via eye-tracking. To support this effort, there is a need for novel technologies and algorithms for accurately recording gaze metrics, including gaze location, pupilometry, and focal depth information, during ambulatory AR, that are robust to artifacts inherent in field data collection (e.g. headset slippage). There is also a need to assess how eye-tracking metrics can be effectively used as a user input modality for Soldier AR systems. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Eye tracking sensors and/or algorithms that are robust to field data collection artifacts. - Ability to track gaze, pupilometry, and/or focal depth estimation. - Ability to render AR content at gaze depth. - Ability to render AR content based on or triggered by real-time monitored gaze data (e.g. at focal depth). (7) AMMUNITION COUNTING / TRACKING There is a need to monitor Soldier ammunition and reload counts in real time. DESCRIPTION OF CAPABILITIES SOUGHT: - Ammunition use counting - Reload frequency - Tracking hits/misses/shot groupings INFORMATION OF INTEREST (to be included with white paper submission) The intent of this RFI is to identify systems/technologies that have already been shown to meet performance requirements listed above and could be integrated into Soldier research in training environments in the next 0-24 months and can be validated or demonstrated in the 1-4 year time frame. The white paper should include physical and functional descriptions of the proposed system, including: - Performance Requirements - Discuss ability to meet the requirements specified above; including sensing modality - Technology - Discuss technologies used, including primary processor and important sensor subsystems, sensing modality; data format; communication protocol; system interface. Indicate Technology Readiness Level (TRL) / maturity using the chart below. Should your TRL level be below 7, state the estimated timeframe to get to TRL 7. - System Architecture - Discuss access to raw data and algorithms; ability to be fed into a larger architecture network, data transmission rate - Data - Discuss data sampling rate, dynamic range, noise, accuracy of hardware sensors, how data is stored, data storage size, data transmission. - Algorithm & Models - Discuss open vs. proprietary nature, access to models. Discuss data processing, data storage, bandwidth, Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) sensitivity/specificity, accuracy, real-time detection or prediction ability; Discuss validation status of algorithms and models. Discuss software updates and support. Discuss if algorithms are processed on-board or if the data must be sent to the cloud to process. - Packaging - Discuss system size and weight, ruggedness; setup procedures and operational configuration, environmental tolerances, water resistance. Discuss what peripherals are needed (chargers, docking stations, etc) and availability of training/maintenance materials. - Power Requirements - Discuss battery life, recharge time. - Safety - Discuss how the sensor contacts the user. Discuss how sensor interacts with user. Discuss potential for rashes, burns, irritations, impact to the skin, and any/all emissions. Discuss cybersecurity. - Human Factors - Discuss how and where the sensor is worn, applied. Discuss how device integrates with existing Soldier clothing and individual equipment. Discuss user comfort. Discuss user interface (on device, app, software, operating system, etc). - Consumables - Discuss all system consumables, including maintenance items. - Cost - Discuss pricing.