A Physiological Data Analysis Toolbox for the Analysis of Acceleration Data

As an alternative to using traditional first principle-based modeling of a protected subject's physiological responses to real-life acceleration trains (both positive and negative-to-positive Gz transitions), a nontraditional systematic approach is being designed to facilitate the evaluation and prediction of human cardiovascular responses to G-suit and Positive Pressure Breathing (PPB) pressure schedules. The purpose of this work is to develop novel improved Anti-G protection schedules optimized for individual pilots in general and push-pull protection in particular. The proposed nontradional systematic models are based on input-output relationships supplemented by expert knowledge. Therefore, both the experimental design and physiological data processing architecture are critical in this project. Six subjects (two females and four males) participated in the initial experimental effort. Persistently excited non-linear G-suit and PPB pressure schedules, which are not direct linear functions of Gz levels, have been applied using two types of electronic valves: (i) a combined Breathing Regulator and Anti-G valve (BRAG valve); and (ii) two custom-designed electronic (SAMCAV) valves. The recorded parameters were heart-level blood pressure, ECG, respiratory rate, G-suit and PPB pressures.