Excellence with passion
10 years of progress in neuroergonomics at ISAE-SUPAERO supported by AXA Research Funds
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The 20-year AXA - ISAE-SUPAERO “Neuroergonomics for Aviation Safety” Chair is the first philanthropic chair signed by the Institute.
An exceptional collaboration between the AXA Research Fund, ISAE-SUPAERO and the Fondation ISAE-SUPAERO.
Research that positions ISAE-SUPAERO among the world leaders in aviation safety, with a direct impact on pilot training and the development of innovative solutions.
Since its creation, the AXA Chair has been pushing back the borders of neuroscience, mobile brain imaging and artificial intelligence to understand the “brain at work”.
A decade of scientific and technological progress
10 years ago, managing stress and attention span during difficult flight phases was still an emerging topic at ISAE-SUPAERO. Thanks to the Human Factors team, led by Prof. Dehais Frederic, a teacher-researcher in the Department of Design and Control of Aeronautical and Space Vehicles (DCAS), major advances have been made to enhance safety in aviation.
“By highlighting the concrete impact of this research on everyday life, improving both safety and quality of life, we express our gratitude to the AXA Research Fund for its vital support that has helped advance this research, broaden its impact and foster collaborations with meaningful real-world applications” - Frédéric Dehais
Today, this expertise directly benefits our students, with a specialization in “Neuroergonomics and Artificial Intelligence” in the final year of the Engineering curriculum.
“Research plays a crucial role in reducing risks and improving aviation safety, and we applaud Professor Frédéric Dehais for his remarkable contribution to the field of neuroergonomics while leading the AXA Chair over the last 10 years.” - Ludovic Berlioux, Head of Aerospace Underwriting in France at AXA XL.
Innovations from aviation to healthcare
Work on brain-computer interfaces is also paving the way for revolutionary clinical applications. In collaboration with Prof. Stein Silva (CHU Purpan), the team is developing a “cockpit bed” capable of monitoring the state of comatose patients in real time, opening up new perspectives in personalized medicine.
“Thanks to the support of the AXA Research Fund, we have been able to expand our team of researchers and enhance their skills to make a real contribution to societal progress today. This is also the role of a school like ours.” - Marie-Hélène BAROUX, Institut General Manager.
10 years of impact, and that’s just the beginning
One notable result of this research work is the creation of the startup Hinfact, in 2017, which grew out of the Institute’s neuroergonomics laboratory. Drawing on expertise in neuroscience, the latest AI technologies and the study of pilot behavior and performance, Hinfact aims to improve the well-being and performance of operators of complex systems, particularly pilots.
The company, headed by Thomas Beissiere, a former ISAE-SUPAERO student in the Chair, now has 35 engineers and data scientists. It offers personalized adaptive training programs for pilots, redefining the design, implementation, and monitoring of training. These evidence-based training programs are available in 25 training centers worldwide, and are used by leading airlines.
“On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the AXA Chair in Neuroergonomics, we would like to acknowledge Professor Frédéric Dehais for his exceptional leadership and commitment in achieving these significant advancements, and thank ISAE-SUPAERO in Toulouse for its continuous support of this essential research. We are proud of this 10-year pioneering researcher support, which illustrates our commitment to innovative and transformative science for human progress” - Julia d’Astorg, Director of the AXA Research Fund.
Many thanks to our partners and researchers for their commitment to science that transforms society!
