A-PIMOD · Applying Pilot Models for Safer Aircraft

The A-PiMod proposal addresses improved flight safety by proposing a new approach to human centred cockpit design, which expands the understanding of the human factor in joint human-machine system, taking into account increasing levels of operational complexity and new operational concepts (SESAR). The project will advance concepts for a fully adaptive and human centered automation, through the integration of Pilot behavioural and cognitive models with automation models – resulting in the generation of real time inferences about the Pilot state and mental picture. With this capability it will be able to support, in an adaptive and cooperative way, the total set of functions (both human and automation) necessary to the achievement of a safe flight under a performance driven ATM system (SESAR). In order to do so, the A-PiMod concept depends on an innovative multimodal human-machine interface, which provides a higher level of human-machine interactivity. This advanced interface will be coupled to a dynamic risk assessment evaluation tool, which enables the detection of potential safety gaps due to loss of Situational Awareness for example. This will further enhance the safety improvements of the proposed A-PiMOD human centred automation design, and associated cockpit interface. In addition, the project will advance new training concepts and allied interactive training tools, exploiting real time pilot or crew state inference. This will ensure that pilots become better and faster aware of the new design philosophy and of how to interact with the new systems. In addition to the extensive cockpit based validation exercises, more system based evaluations will be undertaken, to understand the broader safety and operational impact of the A-PiMOD system. Together with the A-PiMod Advisory Board and the industry participation, this will ensure that project results are taken up by the market in the earliest possible phase of new cockpit design.