Intelligent assistance for aircraft flight crew
The problem of air traffic density and congestion is steadily increasing. With such escalating demands, innovative system solutions are needed on board aircraft to improve the current safety and reliability standards. The EC-funded project, ISAWARE II has aimed at contributing to the improvement of both safety and efficiency of flight operations through improved communication between the pilot and its avionics system. This has been achieved through an interactive concept which provides the crew with a self-intuitive presentation of the whole external situation. ISAWARE II has integrated the Intelligent crew support (ICS) system which reacts both to changes in the environment and to the activities of the crew. In this way, it provides the aircrew with interactive and proactive support. The system is capable of recognising a human flight crew mistake, suggesting remedial actions and finally reverting to its default silent-monitor mode, once the situation is under control. It can continuously monitor the aircraft's external environment, the aircraft systems' status and the activities and physiological status of the crew. These factors are compared with a set of operator plans, which represent correct operating procedures for all crew activities in all levels of flight. If a potentially hazardous deviation from the safe operating procedures is detected, relevant warnings are distributed by the ICS. Monitoring is then continued for any further support needed.
