Wearable Solutions for Smart Integrated Extreme Environments Health Monitor System.
Authors: Paradiso Rita 
Published: June 2024

This paper is an introduction to the design solutions implemented within the EU-funded SIXTHSENSE project; a multidisciplinary innovation and research project with the overall goal of significantly improving the effectiveness and safety of first responder deployment in hazardous environments by optimizing on-site team coordination and mission execution. The project proposes an innovative multimodal monitoring system based on biochemical and physiological sensors data that allows the detection in real time of the physical and mental status deterioration of the first responders deployed in the field. The core of the SIXTHSENSE platform is a sensing garment with a closed loop tactile biofeedback [1], that allows first responders in hazardous situations to receive recommendations related to their physical and mental status, as well as operational indications from the remote command center. The concept of the platform developed within the project focus on the applications related to the deployment of firefighters [2] and mountain rescue services in extreme conditions [3]. The system is equipped with integrated electrochemical and electrophysiological sensors embedded in a garment that ensures intimate contact with the skin to accurately detect parameters related to physiological and mental strain. System also comprises an array of electro-tactile pads providing intuitive tactile feedback in hazardous situations. The garment also combine electronics for acquisition and fusion of sensor data, a microstimulator and controller for generation of spatio-temporally distributed electrical pulses, and communication modules, all embedded in a wearable device.The development of the system is performed iteratively, advancing in parallel hardware (sensors, electronics, electrodes), software (sensor data processing, calibration algorithms, electrotactile feedback control, command center dashboard), and research (data analytics, feedback representation, new telecommunications paradigms, etc .).The overall approach of the project is envisioned through core activities that are embedded in both applications. These are complemented with specific actions, like integrating the system with a specific sensor configuration into appropriate garments and using telecommunication channels best suited for the intended environment. These activities have been performed in three consecutive iterations, following a progressive processing approach to result in two demonstrator systems related to the applications, based on three main development iterations, named Alfa, Beta and Gamma each producing a prototype platform.[1]M. Štrbac et al. , ‘Integrated and flexible multichannel interface for electrotactile stimulation’, J. Neural Eng., vol.13, no. 4, p. 046014, 2016..[2]B. Carballo-Leyenda, J. G. Villa, J. López-Satué, J. A. Rodríguez-Marroyo. “Characterizing wildland firefighters’ thermal environment during live-fire suppression.” Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 10, pp. 949. 2019.[3]D. Curone, E.L. Secco, L. Caldani, A. Lanatà, R. Paradiso, A. Tognetti, G. Magenes, “Assessment of Sensing Fire Fighters Uniforms for Physiological parameter Measurement in Harsh Environment,”IEEE Transactions on Information Technology in Biomedicine, vol. 16, no. 3, pp. 501-511, 2012