Sleeping/Resting Equipment for Combat Vehicle Crews

Abstract : A current need exists to enable crews of combat vehicles to fulfill physiological needs while enclosed within a vehicle for periods of up to 72 continuous hours. Historically, soldiers have dismounted to find a suitable place to accomplish the restorative actions of sleeping, eating, exercision and relieving the stress associated with an operational situation. Chemical, biological and/or radiation contamination present on the battlefield can make contact with the surrounding environment hazardous. This study offers several conceptual hardware and training items which offer simple, straightforward solutions to the confinement problem. The concepts are in the form of individual, shared and vehicle generic items to facilitate effective crew sleeping and resting. Keywords: Habitability, Fatigue(Physiology); Tank crew; Sustained operations; Sustained combat; Sustained battle; Sleep deprivation; Buttoned-up tank operations.