NASCAR All Ears on Effort to SPEARhead Hearing Protection Published Dec. 11, 2009 By Mr. John Schutte 711th Human Performance Wing WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Listen up, NASCAR. The Air Force and SPEAR Labs, LLC, want technologies originally developed for battlefield hearing protection and communications to benefit motorsports as well. Created under Cooperative Research and Development Agreement between SPEAR Labs and Air Force Reserach Laboratory's 711th Human Performance Wing, the company's product integrates active noise reduction and deep-insert, custom-molded hearing protection and communication technologies. Collectively, these capabilities form a device that reduces the potential for auditory damage caused by hazardous noise levels and meanwhile enhances the clarity of two-way radio transmissions. In addition to its intended warfighter use, the small-business-developed military technology--through its subsequent transfer for commercial purposes--shows promise for racecar drivers and teams; factory and construction workers; airport personnel; first responders, medical evacuators, and other emergency transporters; and similar occupations routinely immersed in high-noise environments. SPEAR Labs works with industrial, motorsport, aviation, and aerospace customers to develop, prototype, test, and manufacture its highly ruggedized equipment. Enabled by the AF Technology Transfer mechanism, this particular collaboration and others like it make good economic sense and bolster military and private interests alike.