AI Stress Monitoring for Human Error Prediction and Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Human errors, particularly due to stress, can lead to mission failures and safety problems in various domains such as aviation and space missions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method using sensors and processors to collect stress data, apply AI and ML models to identify or predict human error potential, and adjust human-machine interfaces, digital assistance, or provide alerts to mitigate errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If human operators perform tasks under stress, then productivity is maintained, but human error increases leading to safety problems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetask completion rateVSAvoiderror rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors stress indicators (heart rate, cortisol levels, pupil dilation) and provides real-time feedback to operators about their stress levels and error risk, enabling them to adjust their behavior or receive assistance before errors occur

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

An AI-based digital intermediary monitors the operator's stress state and intervenes by providing contextual information, simplifying interfaces, or alerting supervisors when stress thresholds are exceeded, acting as a buffer between stress and potential errors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If stress monitoring systems are implemented, then human error detection improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem component count
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-functional sensors that can detect multiple stress indicators simultaneously (e.g., biometric sensors that measure heart rate, cortisol, and pupil dilation), reducing the need for separate dedicated sensors for each parameter

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces complex mechanical monitoring equipment with electronic and optical sensors coupled with AI algorithms, using computational methods to detect stress patterns rather than mechanical measurement devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If real-time stress monitoring is performed, then error prediction accuracy improves, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror prediction accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs stress monitoring at periodic intervals rather than continuously, analyzing stress indicators at scheduled checkpoints to reduce computational load and energy consumption while maintaining adequate detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system focuses monitoring resources on the most critical stress indicators and high-risk task phases, applying full monitoring intensity only when needed rather than uniformly across all times and parameters

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4597515A1Human error prediction, detection, and alerting system and method using artificial intelligence (AI)
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC
  • EP4597515A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4597515A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4597515A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system may include at least one sensor (110) and at least one processor (106) configured to, based at least on stress data, at least one of (i) identify at least one occurrence of at least one potential for at least one human error or (ii) predict the at least one occurrence of the at least one potential for the at least one human error; and upon an identification and/or a prediction, output at least one instruction to cause (a) a modification to a human machine interface (HMI) device that interfaces with a user, (b) a modification to an amount of automated digital assistance provided to the user, (c) a modification of content presented to the user, (d) an alert to the user, and/or (e) a presentation of a solution to increase comprehension by the user.