Alert generation and related aircraft operating methods

Abstract

A method of generating aircraft flight deck alerts is provided. An onboard alerting subsystem determines that an alert needs to be generated, and an onboard monitoring subsystem obtains a fatigue level of a flight crew member. An alert is generated with nominal audiovisual characteristics when the fatigue level is indicative of a non-fatigued physiological condition of the flight crew member, and with enhanced audiovisual characteristics when the fatigue level is indicative of a fatigued physiological condition. In addition, an automated flight crew training exercise can be launched when the flight crew member is fatigued, in an attempt to engage the flight crew member and alleviate fatigue.

1 . A method of generating alerts associated with the operation of an aircraft, the method comprising:
 determining, with an onboard alerting subsystem of the aircraft, that an alert needs to be generated;   obtaining, with an onboard monitoring subsystem of the aircraft, a fatigue level of a flight crew member;   generating the alert with nominal audiovisual characteristics when the onboard monitoring subsystem detects that the fatigue level is indicative of a non-fatigued physiological condition of the flight crew member; and   generating the alert with enhanced audiovisual characteristics when the onboard monitoring subsystem detects that the fatigue level is indicative of a fatigued physiological condition of the flight crew member.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining step comprises:
 measuring a physiological characteristic of the flight crew member, resulting in a measured physiological characteristic value; and   deriving the fatigue level from the measured physiological characteristic value.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining step comprises:
 observing a pattern of interactive behavior of the flight crew member with flight deck instrumentation, resulting in an observed pattern of behavior; and   deriving the fatigue level from the observed pattern of behavior.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the obtaining step comprises:
 capturing body movement activity of the flight crew member, resulting in captured body movement activity; and   deriving the fatigue level from the captured body movement activity.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the alert with nominal audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert at a first average volume; and   generating the alert with enhanced audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert at a second average volume that is higher than the first average volume.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the alert with nominal audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert at a constant average volume; and   generating the alert with enhanced audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert at a variable volume that escalates over time.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 generating the alert with nominal audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert that conveys a low sense of urgency; and   generating the alert with enhanced audiovisual characteristics comprises generating an audible alert that conveys a high sense of urgency.   
     
     
         8 . A method of generating alerts associated with the operation of an aircraft, the method comprising:
 detecting, with an onboard flight crew monitoring subsystem of the aircraft, a fatigue level of a flight crew member;   determining, with an onboard flight crew alerting subsystem of the aircraft, that an alert needs to be generated;   generating the alert with nominal notification characteristics that are correlated to the detected fatigue level;   checking, with the onboard flight crew alerting subsystem, whether the flight crew member has responded to the alert in an appropriate manner; and   when the flight crew member has not responded to the alert in an appropriate manner, generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics that convey a higher sense of urgency relative to the nominal notification characteristics.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the detecting step comprises measuring a physiological characteristic of the flight crew member, resulting in a measured physiological characteristic value; and   the fatigue level is correlated to the measured physiological characteristic value.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the detecting step comprises observing a pattern of behavior of the flight crew member, resulting in an observed pattern of behavior; and   the fatigue level is correlated to the observed pattern of behavior.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the detecting step comprises capturing body movement activity of the flight crew member, resulting in captured body movement activity; and   the fatigue level is correlated to the captured body movement activity.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics comprises generating an audible alert having an escalated volume relative to the alert with nominal notification characteristics. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics comprises generating an audible alert using language that differs from language used to generate the alert with nominal notification characteristics. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics comprises displaying a visual alert in a more visibly conspicuous manner relative the alert with nominal notification characteristics. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics comprises activating a tactile feedback element at an escalated intensity relative to the alert with nominal notification characteristics. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein generating the alert with escalated notification characteristics comprises activating a tactile feedback element in an escalated pattern that differs from a pattern used to generate the alert with nominal notification characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . A method of operating an aircraft during a flight, the method comprising:
 detecting, with an onboard monitoring subsystem of the aircraft, that a flight crew member is fatigued;   activating an automated flight crew training exercise in response to detecting that the flight crew member is fatigued; and   engaging the flight crew member with the automated flight crew training exercise, the automated flight crew training exercise comprising instructions intended to alleviate flight crew fatigue.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising terminating the automated flight crew training exercise upon detection of predetermined termination conditions. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the automated flight crew training exercise comprises tasks to be performed by the flight crew member, the tasks being relevant to the flight. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein activating the automated flight crew training exercise is performed in response to satisfaction of real-time criteria associated with operation of the aircraft.