Touch Input Monitoring for Aircraft Operator State Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle operator monitoring methods, particularly in aircraft, face challenges in directly assessing operator attention and mental state due to reliance on external factors or self-declarations, which can be distracting and require additional sensors, often under suboptimal conditions.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using touch input devices to measure operator performance data, such as spatial and temporal coordinates, pressure, and duration, compares these against expected standards to determine operator state, triggering vehicle assistance when deviations exceed predefined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physiological measures (EEG, eye tracking) are used to assess operator state, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, and comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the operator state assessment function from complex physiological sensors and relocates it to the existing touch input device. By measuring touch characteristics (pressure, duration, location) and comparing them against expected values, the system achieves operator state monitoring without requiring additional physiological sensors, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining assessment capability
Solution Approach 2:
The touch input device is given multiple functions: it serves both as the standard vehicle control interface and as the sensor for operator state assessment. By analyzing touch characteristics (pressure, duration, location deviations) against expected values, the same device performs both input control and operator monitoring, eliminating the need for separate physiological measurement devices
2Device complexity
If self-declaration methods are used to detect operator state, then device complexity is reduced, but operator cognitive load increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the operator's own touch input characteristics as the monitoring signal. By analyzing the natural variations in touch pressure, duration, and location against expected values, the operator's state is assessed passively through their own interactions with the device, eliminating the need for separate self-declaration actions and reducing cognitive load while maintaining system simplicity
3Device complexity
If contextual factor assessment is used to approximate operator attention, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to indirect assessment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces touch characteristic analysis as an intermediary between the operator's mental state and the monitoring system. By measuring objective touch parameters (pressure, duration, location) and comparing them against expected values, the system creates a direct bridge to operator state assessment, improving precision over indirect contextual factors while keeping the system simple
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for monitoring an operator state of an operator of an aircraft. The operator performs an input operation on an input device that displays an interactive item, such as a button. Physical properties, such as location, start, ending, duration, force, pressure, etc., of the input operation are measured and compared with expected input performance data that was previously determined. Based on the result of the comparison, an operator state is determined. Based on the operator state, the operator monitoring system generates different control signals, that may alert the operator, engage an assistance system, or issue a distress call.