Method and device for monitoring the steering performance of vehicle operator
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring in the control system of an aircraft the steering performance of the aircraft operator, wherein the system comprises a steering control (9) which is maneuvered by the operator when steering the aircraft through steering deflections in two opposite directions, whereby a steering signal (DP) indicating the size and direction of the steering deflections is produced;
- such method comprising an analysis of the deflections to detect an abnormal steering performance, in order that if the analysis shows an abnormal steering performance, in order that if the caused by a lowered degree of operator consciousness, the system is caused to activate means to initiate action to cause a switch to an automatic steering mode in which the operator'"'"'s assistance is not required, characterized in that a time dependent signal (CPT) is produced every time that the steering signal (DP) indicates that a new steering deflection is effected in the opposite direction to that immediately preceding, which time dependent signal (CPT) corresponds to the time elapsing in the intervals commencing from the moment when the new steering deflections are begun, and further characterized in that the value of the time dependent signal is compared continuously with at least one predetermined time limit value (CPTW, CPTA), the reaching of which constitutes a condition for the activation of said means to initiate the switching to the automatic steering mode.
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Abstract
A method and device for monitoring the consciousness of an aircraft pilot or operator of any other vehicle are described. The monitoring comprises the control of the steering deflections effected by the operator, the size and direction of which are indicated by a steering signal (DP) emitted from the steering control. For every new steering control deflection effected in the opposite direction to the one immediately preceding the time value (CPT) for the steering control deflection is calculated and this time value is compared with at least one predetermined time limit value (CPTW, CPTA). At an excessive signal amplitude considered to indicate an abnormal steering performance which may be caused by a lowered degree of consciousness a warning signal and/or an auto-steering mode is activated. The monitoring according to the invention may also cover abnormally large and rapid steering control deflections as conditions for the activation of the warning signal and the auto-steering mode.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring in the control system of an aircraft the steering performance of the aircraft operator, wherein the system comprises a steering control (9) which is maneuvered by the operator when steering the aircraft through steering deflections in two opposite directions, whereby a steering signal (DP) indicating the size and direction of the steering deflections is produced;
- such method comprising an analysis of the deflections to detect an abnormal steering performance, in order that if the analysis shows an abnormal steering performance, in order that if the caused by a lowered degree of operator consciousness, the system is caused to activate means to initiate action to cause a switch to an automatic steering mode in which the operator'"'"'s assistance is not required, characterized in that a time dependent signal (CPT) is produced every time that the steering signal (DP) indicates that a new steering deflection is effected in the opposite direction to that immediately preceding, which time dependent signal (CPT) corresponds to the time elapsing in the intervals commencing from the moment when the new steering deflections are begun, and further characterized in that the value of the time dependent signal is compared continuously with at least one predetermined time limit value (CPTW, CPTA), the reaching of which constitutes a condition for the activation of said means to initiate the switching to the automatic steering mode.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18)
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11. A device in the control system of an aircraft for monitoring the aircraft operator'"'"'s steering performance, which system comprises a steering control (9), which can be maneuvered by the aircraft operator through steering deflections in two opposite directions and is arranged to produce a steering signal (DP) which indicates the size and direction of the steering deflections, and means to perform an analysis of the steering deflections and if the analysis shows a departure from a predetermined normal steering performance, which may be caused by a lowered degree of operator'"'"'s consciousness, to activate means to initiate action to cause switching to an automatic steering mode wherein operator assistance is not required, characterized in that said means comprise a time calculator means (18, 27), to which the steering signal (DP) is fed, and which is so arranged that every time the steering signal indicates that a new steering deflection is effected in the opposite direction to that immediately preceding, it emits a time dependent signal (CPT), the value of which corresponds to the time passing from the moment when the new steering deflection is started, and comparing means (20, 21;
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34) arranged to compare the value of the time dependent signal with at least one predetermined time limit value (CPTW, CPTA), the reaching of which constitutes a condition for the activation of switching to said means to initiate automatic steering mode. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20)
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Specification