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Jet pilots who experience stress, fear or fatigue are more prone to errors, inaccuracy and lapses in judgment. Researchers are working on a wearable sensor patch that may help to monitor human performance on the fly by sampling biomarkers released in sweat.

GE is working with scientists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the University of Cincinnati to develop a patch that can sample and detect Orexin-A, a biomarker released by the hypothalamus. That part of the brain controls — among other things — sleep and fatigue. The technology being incorporated into the patch is so sensitive that it can single out minute samples of Orexin-A equivalent to one drop among 9.5 million litres of water.

The research is partially funded by the Nano-Bio Manufacturing Consortium and the U.S. air force, which is eager to explore applications for fighter pilots and other mission-critical roles.