The Development of a Human Fatigue Meter Using Finite Element Multidisciplinary Simulation

Pilot fatigue in atmospheric flight operation is a major contribution to human error and is a serious concern. The product under development is a small pilot-mounted device which monitors physiological reactions, such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and brain activity as well as the vibration environment in which the pilot is operating. Using these inputs as well as knowledge of the pilot?s state before coming on duty, the device will monitor the human fatigue state of the pilot. Before a pilot?s fatigue state reaches a pre-determined threshold the pilot and/or mission planner is alerted. Such a device allows monitoring of the fatigue state of any decision maker who is subject to stress and provides a means of alleviating fatigue-induced human error. Development of the fatigue meter is highly dependent on simulation of the device in the flexible aircraft, such as in the STARS software package. With a view to reducing the development time, advanced computational efficiency methods shall be investigated by the RI and implemented in the design cycle by the SBC. The RI shall investigate structural analysis and control using piezoelectric and piezoceramic sensors and actuators relevant to the pilot?s environmental input to the fatigue meter.