Defense Research and Development Canada (DRDC) has been researching the prevalence of neck pain present in their rotary-wing aircrew since the 2004 survey on NVG-induced neck strain. In response, Brash developed a novel Helmet Support Exoskeleton (HSE) that can unload headgear-induced forces acting on the neck.
A key challenge in the design process was to address operational concerns regarding the adjustability and comfort of the HSE for different users, quick release for emergency egress, and minimizing interference with the cockpit environment. Large-scale, in-house 3D printers were utilized to create several full-scale models to perform quick iterations and user testing.
The HSE consists of a three-linkage passive exoskeleton that connects to the user's helmet and is attached to the user via a torso harness. The exoskeleton allows for free motion of the neck and head while transferring helmet loads to the torso via the harness, and as a result, unloads the user's neck.