Checklist error mitigation system

• US 7,260,453 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2005
• Issued: 08/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Mitchell, Bradley J., Aimar, Jeffrey L., Poier, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Dalena
• Application Number:
  US11/030,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20060149439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/14, 701/29, 701/31, 701/35, 244/194, 244/220, 244/221, 340/945, 340/438, 340/963
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

A checklist error mitigation system and method are provided to reduce the chance for error when completing a checklist. The system may receive a checklist step from an electronic or voice checklist system and highlights any switch, lever, dial or control that needs to be manipulated in completion of the checklist step. The highlighting may be accomplished by spotlighting or surface lighting.

Claims

1. A checklist error mitigation system, for a vehicle comprising:

a processor adapted to run a software program;

an illumination device operatively connected to the processor;

a memory accessible by the processor that includes the software program and a checklist; and

a user interface through which a user controls and responds to the system;

wherein the software program is adapted to determine if any one of a switch, lever, dial and/or a control requires manipulation to complete a checklist step; and

wherein the processor is also adapted to instruct the illumination device to illuminate each switch, lever, dial or control requiring manipulation.

2. The system of claim 1, including more than one illumination device.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the more than one illumination device is a spotlight.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the more than one illumination device is a surface light.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the surface light at least partially surrounds the one of a switch, lever, dial or control.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one system provides an input to the processor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the input is indicative of the checklist step being completed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one of a switch, lever, dial or control associated with a following checklist step is illuminated.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

10. A method for mitigating errors during completion of a checklist, the method comprising:

receiving a first input;

determining a checklist step based on the first input;

highlighting a switch, a lever, a dial and/or a control that requires manipulation for completion of the checklist step; and

receiving a second input indicative of completion of the checklist step.

11. The method of claim 10, including highlighting a switch, a lever, a dial and/or a control requiring manipulation for completion of a second checklist step.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first input is received from a system.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first input is received from a user interface device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein a spotlight highlights each switch, lever dial and/or control that requires manipulation.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein a surface light highlights each switch, lever, dial and/or control that requires manipulation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the surface light at least partially surrounds each switch, lever, dial and/or control that requires manipulation.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is carried out in an aircraft.

18. A checklist error mitigation system comprising:

a processor adapted to run a software program;

an illumination device operatively connected to the processor;

a memory accessible by the processor that includes the software program and a checklist; and

wherein the software program determines if any one of a switch, lever, dial or control requires manipulation to complete a checklist step; and

wherein the processor instructs the illumination device to illuminate the switch, lever, dial or control requiring manipulation.

19. The system of claim 18, including more than one illumination device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the more than one illumination device is a surface light.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the surface light at least partially surrounds the one of a switch, lever, dial or control.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one system provides an input to the processor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the input is indicative of the checklist step being completed.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the one of a switch, lever, dial or control associated with a following checklist step is illuminated.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the more than one illumination device is a spotlight.