Physiological Monitoring - Coventry University CPASES

The Customer Challenge

The Centre for Physical Activity and Sport Sciences at Coventry University is home to the Occupational and Environmental Physiology Group led by Dr Doug Thake. The group conducts observational, experimental, and simulation studies in extreme environmental and work conditions.

Their research takes place both in real world environments such as the military, fire service, NHS, nuclear industry, and battery industry, as well as within their specialist environmental chamber. This chamber can simulate a wide range of conditions including temperatures from minus 25 to plus 50 degrees Celsius, relative humidity from 20 to 90 percent, simulated solar irradiation from 0 to 1000 watts per square metre, and simulated altitude from sea level to 8848 metres.

The group also conducts applied and mechanistic research into the effectiveness of hot and cold water immersion and collaborates on studies with high altitude and polar expeditions. Their overall aim is to design and conduct human based investigations that improve performance, productivity, and health and safety while influencing policy, operational procedures, and product testing.

To support this work, the research team required a reliable system capable of measuring and monitoring multiple physiological signals in real time during complex experiments conducted under extreme environmental conditions.

 

Why

Accurate real time monitoring is essential when conducting experiments involving human participants in extreme conditions.

One example of this research is a study conducted by PhD student Dirk Dugdale. His work investigates the impact of extreme ambient conditions of 40 degrees Celsius, 30 percent relative humidity, and 800 watts per square metre of simulated solar irradiation while participants wear a 40 kilogram Explosive Ordnance Disposal suit.

The research also investigates whether wearing a Liquid Cooling Suit underneath the protective suit can reduce the thermal burden experienced by the wearer.

To assess this, the study measures multiple variables including human skin temperature, core body temperature, cooling suit water temperature, and the surface temperature of the protective suit under different environmental conditions. The conditions tested include different air temperatures and varying levels of simulated solar irradiation including 0, 200, and 800 watts per square metre.

The experiments require continuous monitoring of participant health and safety while capturing detailed temperature measurements across multiple points on the body and cooling system.

 

The Eltek Solution

Eltek monitoring equipment was used to support these research experiments by enabling continuous measurement and monitoring of multiple temperature points during trials.

Thermocouples were introduced to the inlet and outlet of both the body and head cooling circuits of the Liquid Cooling Suit. This allowed researchers to measure heat absorption and energy transfer within the cooling system. The measurements also supported estimates of body heat storage during the experiments.

The Eltek system allowed researchers to monitor participant health and safety in real time while collecting detailed experimental data.

The system also provided the flexibility required for complex research projects where multiple measurements must be transmitted simultaneously.

Using the GenII system, researchers were able to transmit measurements from seven different body and cooling suit locations at ten second intervals.

 

Measurable Results

The Eltek system enabled researchers to collect and centralise multiple streams of temperature data using the Darca Plus software platform.

As Dirk Dugdale explained:

“The ability to collect and centralise multiple streams in Darca Plus software is fantastic for real time monitoring and data logging. At any one time I used the GenII system to transmit measurements from seven different body and cooling suit locations at ten second intervals. Monitoring participants’ thermal status live was fundamental to my work and participant health and safety. Furthermore, this approach afforded me the time to keep on top of other aspects of data collection.”

The system also enabled reliable data transmission across the laboratory environment. Data can be transmitted over distances of up to one kilometre, and in this case the equipment successfully transmitted data between rooms located approximately five to seven metres apart.

Another benefit was the ability to move the laptop and receiver together by disconnecting the mains power and using the backup battery for short periods. This flexibility supported a range of laboratory and field-based research trials.

 

Strategic Impact

The use of Eltek monitoring equipment enabled the Occupational and Environmental Physiology Group to conduct complex human research in extreme environmental conditions while maintaining continuous monitoring of participant safety.

The system supports research projects that require multiple simultaneous measurements and reliable real time data monitoring.

Its flexibility allows it to be used in both laboratory-based research and field-based studies, supporting a wide range of experimental designs and environmental conditions.