NASA’s PUMA technology to bring laboratory-grade biometric data directly to athletes, fitness enthusiasts and dieters.

Startup NASA is a new opportunity offered by NASA’s Technology Transfer Program. Startup companies can applyto license patented NASA technology with no up-front payment; choose from a diverse portfolio of more than 1,200-patented NASA technologies that range from materials and coatings to sensors, aeronautics technologies, instrumentation and more; and create new products and services.

A team of Glenn engineers, led by Dr. Daniel Dietrich, initially developed PUMA to monitor the oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production rates of astronauts exercising during long missions. The portable unit was designed to give the crew the ability to move around the spacecraft without being tethered to a large immovable unit.

“NASA Glenn’s PUMA technology, is now finding broader application in the marketplace,” said Kim Dalgleish-Miller, chief of Glenn’s Technology Transfer Office. “It is always exciting to see the technology the center has invented being transformed into economic and business opportunities.”

AirFlare will develop the PUMA technology to bring laboratory-grade biometric data directly to athletes, fitness enthusiasts and dieters.

“For decades, high quality metabolic data has been out of reach for most dieters and recreational athletes,” said Daniel Lawhon, CEO of AirFlare LLC. “We are incredibly excited to be working with NASA to give people more control of their health and fitness.”

As a low weight portable device, PUMA can be used at the gym, out on a run, or anywhere the user brings it. This wearable device will monitor metabolic and cardiovascular data while users are training or at rest. Then it will synchronize with the user’s smartphone, tablet, or laptop, providing insight on a range of training and dieting metrics like oxygen consumption, respiratory quotient and energy substrate utilization. These metrics can guide users and trainers on exercise and diet plans, helping dieters to lose weight and recreational athletes to optimize athletic performance

Portable Unit for Metabolic Analysis (PUMA)