Improved Crashworthy Seating for Naval Helicopters

This Phase I program would examine the feasibility of developing a lightweight energy-attenuating troop seating system 10 pounds or less that meets naval injury tolerance standard. The effort will focus on designing and examining the major load-bearing components of the seat to determine which components might be optimized through the use of lightweight materials. Also, ArmorWorks will develop and evaluate differnet energy absorbing concepts that have been suggested and developed to provide the best possible crash protection to occupants weighting 140-240 pounds. Emphasis will be placed on efficient energy attenuation processes requiring possible shorter strokes, and keeping weight of energy absorber system to a minimum to protect all troop population. This SBIR Phase I will yield a quantitative set of seat design guidelines and models that can be implemented to military helicopter and civil rotorcraft. Later, Phase II studies could include more engineering development, prototype seat static, and dynamic crash impact tests.