Going 36hr without sleep...

[zakobi]

On a list about sleep i found this:

British Ministry of Defence researchers have been able to reset soldiers’ body clocks so they can go without sleep for up to 36 hrs. Tiny optical fibres embedded in special spectacles project a ring of bright white light (with a spectrum identical to a sunrise) around the edge of soldiers’ retinas, fooling them into thinking they have just woken up. The system was first used on US pilots during the bombing of Kosovo.

 

Anyone knows more?

[Avilator]

I would predict that these people will have serious stress-related problems later on. What's described above is certainly plausible as well.

[mvsgas]

If you have served in any military you can relate to being awake for more than 24 hours, it happens. There are many safety regulations that prevents you to working on heavy machinery

(including aircraft) but I think we all that served have been there before. It is confusing feeling, sunset may feel as a sun rise, you forget simple things. But when you stay up for more than 24 hours, you appreciate sleep so much more. I think I once fell asleep while walking, it was during basic training. I woke up after I hit a wall. I must have stand there for 5 minutes trying to figure out how did I got there.

[Namenlos Ein]

• The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Brain and Behavior
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation
  

 

It is not such good idea to risk using such technology in the real combat operations.

[GhostDog]

I read that bright computer screens basically have the same effect. I don't know that it "resets" your body clock though, it just screws up your sleep cycle. You can zone out and keep functioning for a while, but you'll be asleep before you even realize it when you finally do crash.

[GhostDog]

And AFAIK, the USAF would have a herd of cows if their pilots were going longer than 12 hours without rest.

[RIPTIDE]

• The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Brain and Behavior
  
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_deprivation
  

 

It is not such good idea to risk using such technology in the real combat operations.

When I was in college I went on a 3 day bender once. I had zero sleep and I can tell you that at the end of it I was having minor hallucinations and was rather unsure of myself crossing even the road.

[EtherealN]

Guys, seriously, think before you post and try to avoid things that can cause "debate".

 

I'm watching and will take action if this resumes. Until then, I have cleaned the thread. Discuss the technology, not other things that are bound to turn into flames.

Edited September 9, 2010 by EtherealN

[mikoyan]

dude I do that all the time and I donnnt zsssss...zsssee...see any secondary efff.... efff... effecxt.

[Eddie]

I've gone without sleep for almost 48 hrs on ops in the past, and still do more often than id like, never did me any harm honest.

 

Why is my screen spinning? Wibble.

[blaster454]

The USAF, and most other air forces I imagine, impose fairly strict crew rest requirements on flight crew members (pilots, co-pilots, Wizzos, Navs, etc). But if you read very deeply into recent AF conflicts (Vietnam and after), it was not uncommon at all for combat crews to do 3 or more hot turns in a single duty period. That could mean many, many hours in a cramped cockpit. I am certain that multiple combat sorties back to back has a strong effect on pilot effectiveness. But they did the missions just the same. :thumbup:

 

On the other side of the rated fence, ground support people often work multi shifts to keep the combat crews turning. I can remember spending almost 48 hours non-stop loading a wing of B52's, packing and then crawling onto KC-135 tankers where the comfort level was missing and sleep was in short spurts. After a long ride we got off and armed fuzes for another 15 or so hours in Guam. It happens and is a requirement for extreme mission performance and that is one of the reasons that military service, for the most part, is a young person's world.

 

Of course, that was before someone decided to do sleep deprivation studies--we never knew we were tired. :megalol: