Biometric Pilot Readiness Assessment System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for assessing pilot readiness rely on subjective personal judgments, which are prone to bias and human error, placing an additional burden on crew members and lacking objectivity in evaluating pilot fitness for duty.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing biometric sensors, including vision-based and physiological sensors, to continuously assess pilot readiness by comparing actual movements and expressions to predefined anchor points, with a processor analyzing the data to determine deviations from acceptable thresholds, and employing machine learning algorithms for objective evaluation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If self-assessment or informal crew assessment is used to evaluate pilot readiness, then the assessment process is simple and quick, but the reliability and objectivity of the assessment deteriorates due to subjective bias and human error

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of assessment processVSAvoidobjectivity of pilot readiness assessment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual, subjective assessment process with an automated biometric monitoring system that uses sensors to objectively measure physiological parameters. This substitution eliminates human bias while maintaining operational simplicity through automatic data collection and analysis.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-monitoring of pilot readiness through automatic biometric data collection without requiring active participation or subjective input from the pilot or crew members. The system independently assesses readiness based on physiological measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If multiple crew members perform informal assessments, then more observations are gathered, but the burden on crew members increases and subjectivity remains

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of observational dataVSAvoidburden on crew members
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces human observers with automated biometric sensors that continuously collect physiological data. This eliminates the burden on crew members while ensuring comprehensive data collection through objective measurement of multiple parameters simultaneously.

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

3Reliability

If written policies and regulations are used to guide pilot readiness, then clear guidelines are established, but real-time evaluation capability is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclarity of readiness guidelinesVSAvoidreal-time assessment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides continuous real-time feedback on pilot readiness by monitoring biometric parameters and comparing them against established thresholds. This maintains the clarity of guidelines while enabling immediate detection of readiness changes throughout the flight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous monitoring of biometric parameters throughout the flight, replacing periodic or pre-flight assessments with uninterrupted real-time evaluation. This ensures ongoing readiness assessment without interrupting flight operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP4098195A1Physiological and behavioural methods to assess pilot readiness
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 ROCKWELL COLLINS INC
  • EP4098195A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4098195A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4098195A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system and method for automatically assessing pilot readiness via a plurality of biometric sensors (108, 110) includes continuously receiving biometric data including vision-based data; the biometric vision-based data is compared to a task specific set of movements and facial expressions as defined by known anchor points. A deviation is calculated based on the vision-based data and task specific set of movements and expressions, and the deviation is compared to an acceptable threshold for pilot readiness. Other biometric data may be included to refine the readiness assessment.