In the new generations of civil and military aircraft, operations are becoming increasingly complex. The number of tasks delegated to the machine is such that pilots are taking on a real supervisory role, bringing with them new responsibilities.
What if the machine could also assist pilots in their operations, with a view to human-machine cooperation? A machine that could detect fatigue, reduced vigilance, stress or even excessive reliance on automatic systems, and adapt to the situation…
This is not science fiction
At ISAE-SUPAERO, research into methods for estimating the state of operators (pilots, air traffic controllers) with the aim of adapting systems and interfaces according to their mental state, involves researchers from the Design and Operation of Aeronautical and Space Vehicles (DCAS) department.
Caroline Chanel and Mickaël Causse are conducting research at the heart of these themes. These two teacher-researchers are also behind the ICCAS international conference, which will bring together world-renowned scientists on the ISAE-SUPAERO campus on 16 and 17 May.
Capturing pilots’ intentions
Caroline Chanel, a researcher in autonomous systems control, artificial intelligence and human-system interaction, is particularly interested in decision-making methods designed to capture the states or intentions of pilots in order to propose an appropriate response.
The PHYBIC project measures the pilot’s brain activity using signals picked up by electrodes, then translates it using algorithms, with the aim of understanding which instrument the pilot is focusing on. The aim? To decipher his intentions or a degraded cognitive state, so that the machine can trigger actions to relieve him or assist him with certain tasks.
The MINERVA project is studying how pilots interact with the machine in emergency situations. This research project required the development of a software architecture enabling the machine to understand the pilot’s intentions, using voice recognition and eye tracking, to capture his preferences and answer the question: in a given situation, what type of assistance should the machine offer? The ultimate aim is to develop a cognitive assistant with a view to human-machine collaboration.
Preventing an incapacitating state
Recent work by Mickaël Causse, a neuroscience researcher, has focused on studying the startle reflex in pilots, with the aim of preventing incapacitation.
The Eye-Interaction project involves inducing a startle reflex in a panel of pilots (qualified or in training) during flight scenarios on an Airbus A320 simulator. The aim is to identify the parameters, in particular physiological and personality parameters, in participants who do not startle or, at least, who suffer few consequences in terms of flight control, and to consider the types of devices that are appropriate for dissipating the stress effect in pilots.
The European HAIKU (Human AI teaming Knowledge and Understanding for aviation safety) project, led by the ACHIL team at ENAC with support from ISAE-SUPAERO, aims to create an assistant called FOCUS (Flight Operational Companion for Unexpected Situations) to help regulate the surprise and startle response. This adaptive tool collects data from the pilot and the aircraft to identify the startle response. When startle is detected, the AI initiates a collaborative procedure to help the pilot regain a state of calm and situational awareness to assist him in his decision-making.
These four projects will be presented at the ICCAS conference.
The faces of research at ISAE-SUPAERO
"I have always been fascinated by autonomous systems and am delighted to be teaching and working on this subject. I am interested in on-board decision-making methods to improve the efficiency, operational safety and adaptability of autonomous systems. My research, which is supported by the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID), the French National Research Agency (ANR) and the Dassault Aviation sponsorship chair (which I have held since 2022), contributes to a number of different scientific fields, ranging from artificial intelligence to human-machine interaction and neuroscience. Last year was rich in publications and international project launches, and was marked by the award of my Habilitation to Supervise Research (HDR). I have also become head of the Autonomous Systems area offered in the 3rd year of the engineering curriculum.
Caroline Chanel lecturer and researcher in decision and control for autonomous systems"A neuropsychologist by training, I discovered the fascinating field of neuroergonomics, a discipline that comes to us straight from the United States. Applying knowledge of how the brain works to improve interaction with technology fascinates me. I'm particularly interested in the effects of stress, mental load and ageing on human performance. My research has been supported by the French Defence Innovation Agency (AID), the French National Research Agency (ANR), Europe (SESAR project) and a sponsorship chair with Dassault Aviation, for which I was responsible for 5 years. The year 2024 is full of projects, including an exciting study in collaboration with the Swiss aviation authorities on the impact of ageing on cognitive performance, to accompany the increase in the retirement age of air traffic controllers. We are using a test developed at ISAE-SUPAERO: the Toulouse N-back Task. I also have the pleasure of co-organising ICCAS 2024 with Caroline Chanel, a conference that I helped to create in 2019 with Dassault Aviation."
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