System and Method For Monitoring An Alertness Of An Operator Of A Powered System

• US 20090267777A1
• Filed: 07/31/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Dean, Jason, McNally, Christopher, Lacy, Patricia
• Granted Patent: US 7,956,757 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/576
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms

Abstract

A system is provided for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system. The system includes a controller configured to initiate an alert countdown upon determining a lack of input received from the operator during an operation of the powered system. The controller is configured to communicate an alert to the operator during the alert countdown. Additionally, the controller is configured to measure a response time of the operator to the alert. A method is also provided for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system, said monitoring system comprising:

a controller configured to initiate an alert countdown upon determining a lack of input received from the operator during an operation of the powered system, said controller being configured to communicate an alert to the operator during said alert countdown, and to measure a response time of the operator to said alert.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said powered system is one of an off-highway vehicle, a highway vehicle, a marine vehicle, or a rail vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to determine said lack of operator input during the operation of the powered system by initiating an input countdown during which an input from the operator resets the input countdown while operating the powered system.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to reduce a duration of said input countdown upon said response time being greater than a predetermined threshold.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to reduce a duration of said input countdown upon said controller determining that said response time of the operator to a plurality of consecutive alert countdowns increases for said plurality of consecutive alert countdowns.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said controller is configured to reduce a duration of said alert countdown upon said response time being greater than a predetermined threshold.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to activate a bell during said alert countdown upon said response time being greater than a predetermined threshold, said bell being indicative of a failed component on said powered system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said alert is an audible tone during said alert countdown, and said controller is configured to increase one of a frequency and volume of said audible tone during said alert countdown upon said response time being greater than a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein upon a lapse of said alert countdown, said controller is configured to initiate a corrective action including at least one of:

switching said controller from an automatic mode into a manual mode;

activating a braking system to stop the powered system;

modifying said alert during the alert countdown including modification of a query, and elevation of visual cues;

restricting a speed of said powered system;

or

restricting a powered mode of an engine of the powered system.

10. A system for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system, said powered system operating based on a profile, said monitoring system comprising:

a controller configured to initiate a query to the operator during an operation of the powered system, said query is configured to prompt the operator for information related to the operation of the powered system along the profile; and

said controller being configured to compare a response to the query with a correct answer of said query to determine the alertness of the operator.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said profile includes a predetermined operating parameter of the powered system at incremental locations along a predetermined route, and said query is configured to prompt the operator for a predetermined operating parameter at an incremental location along the predetermined route.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein said powered system is one of an off-highway vehicle, a marine propulsion vehicle, or a rail vehicle.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to initiate said query based upon at least one of a time of day, an amount of time an operator has spent on duty, a geographic location of the powered system, a parameter of the powered system, an operating mode of the powered system, an alertness of the operator to a previous query, a configuration of the power system, and/or on a random basis.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said information related to the operation of the powered system includes a plurality of categories of varying significance, and said controller is configured to query the operator with information from one of said categories.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein upon the operator having provided an incorrect response to a query from a first category, said controller is configured to query the operator with information from a second category of higher significance than said first category.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said controller is configured to randomly query the operator with information related to the operation of the powered system from a category of high significance more often than a category of low significance.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said controller includes a memory configured to store said correct answer to the query and an acceptable error of the response to said query;

said controller is configured to determine the alertness of the operator based upon said response, said correct answer, and said acceptable error of the response; and

said acceptable error is lower for a category of higher significance than said acceptable error for a category of lower significance.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said powered system is a train traveling along a railroad, and said plurality of categories in decreasing order of significance include at least one of:

a current operating parameter of the train;

a current location of the train;

an identity of a passing train on an adjacent railroad;

a transmitted message provided by a wayside device; and

/or

a communication received from a dispatch center.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said powered system is a train traveling along a railroad, and said plurality of categories in decreasing order of significance include at least one of:

one of a current mile posting and a current speed limit;

a geographic crossing with the railroad;

a train having passed on an adjacent railroad;

a transmitter message provided by a transmitter positioned adjacent to the railroad, said transmitter message including a transmitter identifier, a mile posting, and a number of wheels on the train;

a most recent communication from a dispatch center; and

/or

a parameter of the train.

20. The system of claim 10, further comprising:

a memory coupled to the controller, said memory containing data relating to the correct answer to the query, wherein the controller is configured to compare the response and the correct answer to determine the alertness of the operator; and

a display coupled to the controller to output the query, said display including a softkey for the operator to input the response.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

said powered system is a train traveling along a railroad, and the operator is one of an engineer and a conductor;

a query is output to the engineer through the display, and the engineer inputs the response to the query using the softkey of the display;

said controller is coupled to an audible device in a conductor cabin; and

a conductor query is output to the conductor using the audible device, and said conductor inputs the query by activating one of a bell and the audible device.

22. The system of claim 10, wherein said controller is configured to store the response to the query in a memory of the controller, in addition to at least one of an identity of the operator, a location of the powered system during the query, a time of day of the query, and/or a parameter of the powered system during the query.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein each of a plurality of powered systems include a respective controller configured to store a respective query in a respective memory of the controller;

said respective controller of the plurality of powered systems is configured to communicate said respective query response along with at least one of the operator identity, a respective powered system location, the time of day, and the powered system parameter for the respective query response to at least one of a;

dispatch station configured to control a plurality of light signals along a route;

a road foreman responsible for maintaining a safe performance of the operator; and

an event recorder coupled to the memory.

24. A method for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system, said method comprising:

determining a lack of input received from the operator during an operation of the powered system;

initiating an alert countdown based upon said lack of input received;

communicating an alert to the operator during said alert countdown; and

measuring a response time of the operator to said alert.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said powered system is one of an off-highway vehicle, a marine propulsion vehicle, or a rail vehicle.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said determining the lack of input received includes initiating an input countdown during which an input from the operator resets the input countdown while operating the powered system.

27. A method for monitoring an alertness of an operator of a powered system, said powered system operating based on a profile, said method comprising:

initiating a query to the operator during an operation of the powered system;

prompting the operator for information related to the operation of the powered system along the profile; and

comparing a response to the query with a correct answer of said query to determine the alertness of the operator.