DEVICE FOR REST MANAGMENT FOR AIRCRAFT PILOT

• US 20100030406A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus France
• Inventors: Christophe, Laure, Pin, Garance
• Granted Patent: US 8,204,636 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/14
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 11/0689 specially adapted for pilots
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 43/00 Arrangements or adaptations of instruments arrangements of cameras B64D47/08; aeronautical measuring instruments per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/02 Arrangements or adaptations of signal or lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

A device for managing a rest period, in flight, of a pilot in a cockpit of an airplane including parameter acquisition means, for acquiring one input parameter characteristic of a desired rest period by the pilot who wishes to have a rest, calculations means intended for calculating, from the current position of the airplane given by the airplane parameters, a future position of the airplane at the end of the desired rest period along a trajectory programmed from the input parameters and airplane parameters, means for displaying information on the rest period and or on the position of the airplane.

Claims

1. A device for managing a rest period, in flight, of a pilot in a cockpit of an airplane, wherein it includes:

means for acquiring at least one input parameter characteristic of an event generating the end of a rest period desired by the pilot wishing to have a rest, such as the time of the end of the rest period or the desired duration of the rest period, or coordinates of a point in a flight plan at which the pilot intends to end his or her rest period at the latest,

calculation means for updating the remaining time of the rest period and or a scheduled position of the airplane along a programmed trajectory, at the end of the desired rest period, from at least one acquired input parameter and airplane parameters,

means for displaying information on the updated remaining time of the rest period and or on the scheduled position of the airplane, when the desired rest period is over,

said parameter acquisition means and information display means being so arranged in the cockpit as to be accessible to the pilot wishing to have a rest from a flight control seat.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the information display means consist of at least a screen in the cockpit of the airplane, associated with graphic generation means, whereon the updated remaining time of the rest period and/or the scheduled position of the airplane, when the desired rest period is over, is displayed at least in a graphic form.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the calculation means are shared means making the calculations for other functions in the airplane.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device is inactive for at least a position, so-called flying position, of a seat on which the pilot is seated and may be active for at least one position, so-called rest position, of said seat, said seat being provided with a pilot'"'"'s isolation device, capable of isolating the pilot from the sound and or light environment in the cockpit, said isolation device consisting of at least a first position when it is inactive and at least a second position when it is active.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the isolation device is a hood arranged on an upper part of a back of the pilot'"'"'s seat, and folded in the first position and partly unfolded above the pilot having a rest in the second position.

6. A device according to claim 4, generating at least one signal for activating a pilot'"'"'s environment adaptation device in the cockpit, when the pilot'"'"'s isolation device is activated.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the environment adaptation device includes a system for controlling the brightness in a volume around the pilot having a rest.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein the environment adaptation device includes a sound control system in a volume around the pilot having a rest.

9. A device according to claim 4, generating a command signal for inhibiting a pilot'"'"'s hypo-vigilance monitoring device when the device for managing a pilot'"'"'s rest period is active for said pilot.

10. A device according to claim 1, generating a command signal for activating a pilot'"'"'s awakening device when the rest period is over or shortly before the rest period is over, said awakening device providing a procedure intended to help the pilot to recover all his or her vigilance.