Vertical Impact Tests of the Panoramic Night Vision Goggle

The Panoramic Night Vision Goggle PNVG was developed to provide an ultra-wide field of view over conventional NVGs however, the PNVG, when attached to a standard USAF flight helmet, alters the helmets inertial properties. These altered properties could potentially induce neck injuries during ejection. An experimental effort was conducted to measure the biodynamic response of an Advanced Dynamic Anthropomorphic Manikin ADAM subjected to simulated catapult dynamics while wearing the Panoramic Night Vision Goggle PNVG. A series of vertical impacts were conducted with the PNVG using the AFRLHEPA Vertical Deceleration Tower VDT. The VDT impact test pulses were a nominal 10 G peak half-sine waveform with an approximate rise time of 72 ms. The effects of inertial property differences of the PNVG helmet system as compared to a baseline HGU-55P were evaluated and found not to increase the risk of injury during the catapult phase of ejection with an ACES II seat when compared to a current operational helmets. Dynamic evaluation of the PNVG helmet using 10 G vertical impacts indicated that it will not induce neck loads greater than established VDT human tolerance values. Dynamic evaluation also found no structural failures to the PNVG mounting points.