Systems and methods for monitoring pilot health
Inventors
Bosworth, William Robert • Chua, Zarrin Khiang-Huey • Duda, Jessica Edmonds • Nahm, Eugene H.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10426393-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
Pilot health monitoring systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided. A pilot health monitoring system is configured to collect information regarding the pilot's physiological and/or physical characteristics, and information regarding a state of the aircraft; analyze the information; determine a health condition of the pilot and/or a state of the aircraft; and/or provide warnings and/or commands as a function of the information.
Core Innovation
The pilot monitoring system collects one or more health parameters of a pilot using a plurality of sensors and determines flight situation data of the aircraft using an aircraft state monitoring system. The analysis system determines an incapacitation level of the pilot as a function of the one or more health parameters. The human machine interface provides an interface between the pilot and the pilot monitoring system and presents a warning to the pilot based on the determined incapacitation level.
The actuation system is configured to adjust or actuate one or more flight controls as a function of the determined incapacitation level. The actuation system performs an emergency descent procedure and an auto-landing procedure. During the emergency descent procedure, the pilot monitoring system navigates the aircraft, via the actuation system, to a predetermined airspeed and a predetermined altitude; during the auto-landing procedure, the pilot monitoring system navigates the aircraft, via the actuation system, from the predetermined altitude to a touchdown location.
Claims Coverage
The document provides three independent claims that collectively cover a pilot monitoring system and a corresponding monitoring method. Across these independent claims, the inventive features repeat around sensing health parameters, determining an incapacitation level, warning via a human machine interface, and actuation of aircraft flight controls including emergency descent and auto-landing to specified navigation targets.
Monitoring pilot health parameters using a plurality of sensors
A pilot monitoring system comprises a plurality of sensors configured to monitor one or more health parameters of a pilot.
Determining flight situation data using an aircraft state monitoring system
The pilot monitoring system comprises an aircraft state monitoring system configured to determine flight situation data of the aircraft.
Determining incapacitation level as a function of health parameters
The pilot monitoring system comprises an analysis system to determine an incapacitation level of the pilot as a function of the one or more health parameters.
Presenting a warning via a human machine interface based on incapacitation level
A human machine interface operatively coupled with the one or more processors provides an interface between the pilot and the pilot monitoring system, and is configured to present a warning to the pilot as a function of the determined incapacitation level.
Emergency descent procedure to predetermined airspeed and altitude
An actuation system is configured to perform an emergency descent procedure, wherein during the emergency descent procedure the pilot monitoring system navigates the aircraft via the actuation system to a predetermined airspeed and a predetermined altitude.
Auto-landing procedure to a touchdown location
An actuation system is configured to perform an auto-landing procedure, wherein during the auto-landing procedure the pilot monitoring system navigates the aircraft via the actuation system from the predetermined altitude to a touchdown location.
Monitoring a pilot using an automation system with sensor-based health assessment
A method for monitoring a pilot in an aircraft using an automation system comprises monitoring, via a plurality of sensors, one or more health parameters for the pilot; determining flight situation data of the aircraft; and determining an incapacitation level of the pilot as a function of the one or more health parameters.
Method warning presentation and flight-control actuation based on incapacitation level
The method presents a warning to the pilot via a human machine interface as a function of the determined incapacitation level, and adjusts or actuates via an actuation system one or more flight controls as a function of the determined incapacitation level.
Performing emergency descent and auto-landing navigation in the method
The method performs an emergency descent procedure as a function of the determined incapacitation level, navigating to a predetermined airspeed and a predetermined altitude, and performs an auto-landing procedure navigating from the predetermined altitude to a touchdown location.
Auto-landing-only pilot monitoring system navigating to touchdown
A pilot monitoring system comprises an actuation system configured to perform an auto-landing procedure, wherein during the auto-landing procedure the pilot monitoring system navigates the aircraft via the actuation system to a touchdown location.
Overall claim coverage centers on determining an incapacitation level from pilot health parameters, warning the pilot via a human machine interface, and using an actuation system to adjust or actuate flight controls, including navigation targets for emergency descent and auto-landing. The method claim mirrors the system by specifying monitoring, incapacitation determination, warning presentation, and emergency descent/auto-landing procedures.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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