Neck Torque Study Induced by Head-Borne Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS) in Ground-Based Applications. Version V1.2

摘要

While providing a critical capability to conduct missions under the cover of darkness, Night Vision Goggles (NVG) are a recognized source of acute and chronic neck injuries . US Army Night Vision & Electronic Sensors Directorate and the Naval Surface Warfare Center needed to characterize the mass, Center of Gravity (CG) and neck torque generated by existing NVG and Visual Augmentation Systems (VAS) in order to understand the potential for neck pain and injury created by existing systems and provide insight on the mass and CG properties needed for future systems. NVG use light intensifier tubes to amplify existing light while VAS incorporate both light intensifiers and infra- red thermal imagers. (For the purposes of this report, NVG systems are a sub- set of VAS.) This project had three tasks: 1. Develop a method to measure the mass and CG of VAS. 2. Measure the mass and CG of seven (7) VAS and their associated mounts: AN/PVS-7D, AN/PVS-14, AN/PVS-15A, AN/PVS-23, Fusion Goggles, AN/PEQ-20, Advanced Digital Multispectral (ADM)-NVG. Calculate the neck torque generated by these systems. 3. Develop computational models of the VAS, mounts and helmets with appropriate mass properties to allow virtual measurement of mass, CG and neck torque. Additionally, a virtual model was built of the FGS-PI system.