Eye-Com to Tackle Eye-Tracking Challenges for U.S. Department of Defense

Eye-Com Corporation (ECC) was awarded a Congressional Initiative grant in September 2009 to fund a series of complex eye tracking challenges for the U.S. Department of Defense. The Congressional Initiative that is managed by the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), U.S. Army Medical and Materiel Command, will be used to develop advanced biosensor technologies, which include:

1) Development of the Eye-Com™ 9 Biosensor, Communicator, Controller (EC9) prototype. This wireless, wearable eye- and head-tracking device will have a more streamlined design and improved capabilities than the current EC7 model. It will have an integrated head mounted display and eventually capabilities to capture EEG and other physiological measures.

2) Use of the EC9 system in different simulated operational scenarios to include unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), underwater, and driving scenarios. The overall objective is to determine operator states associated with performance degradation (e.g. drowsiness related to both sleep deprivation and/or time-on-task, hypoxia, general fatigue, and distraction and inattention).

3) Improve the current Assistive Communications and Controller capabilities of Eye-Mouse® Software. These developments will be used in conjunction with the EC9 to assist disabled soldiers and civilians with communication and control of electronics or electromechanical devices (i.e. TV, robotic devices, wheel chair, etc.) by means of eye movement and Eye-Mouse® control.

4) Formulation of a field-ready system to detect and measure unique oculometric characteristics in subjects with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and other neuro-ophthomological and traumatic brain and eye injuries. A method for distinguishing normal from abnormal oculometrics will be determined to aid in the development of diagnostic and predictive algorithms which can be used to assess the efficacy of treatment in these medical conditions.

Beyond the immediate purposes for the Department of Defense, these technological advances will lay the foundation for many exciting commercial applications in the medical, transportation, and field operation arenas.

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