Pilots Losing Consciousness, Detection

Lynda's notes (May 1, 2001) on the quote, below, from source cited: The manouverability problems presume atmosphere, of course. Rel-fighters don't have that problem. Reetions might use G-LOC detection equipment. Gelacks would tend not to bother. If you aren't rel enough to stay conscious, you ought to get out of the gene pool. A complicating factor in rel-fighting is that 'grip' is a property of consciousness. A reality skimming ship with an unconscious pilot will time slip. If a pilot flopped into 4d space upon losing consciousness, of course, that might prevent that. So even Gelack ships of the more techno-tolerant sort (Monatese, during their period of fleet prowess, maybe, and/or post-Horth Nersallians) might use detection tricks to make a ship flop at the last possible second. But it would be a fail safe Gelack fighters would want to be able to turn OFF in case of premature decisions.

quote from Fighter Technology of the Future by Col William D. Siuru, Jr.USAF, Retired

"Could the Pilot Be the Weakest Link?"

"While technology can be used to produce supermaneuverable fighters, it might be the physiological capabilities of the human pilot that could put the upper limit on maneuverability. For example, the pilot can become disoriented when his aircraft moves against intuition and experience. It may take extensive training to get used to flying sideways, flying at attitudes well into the stall regime, or being able to point the nose up or down without climbing or diving. Control systems may have to be designed so that the pilot only provides the initial command while the computer performs the rest of the maneuver sequence.

Then there is the problem of gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC). This occurs when there is a rapid or sustained increase in Gs and the body's defensive mechanics cannot maintain sufficient blood pressure in the brain. G-LOC occurs suddenly, with the pilot being unconscious for approximately one-half minute, enough to spell disaster in a high-performance aircraft. Even when the pilot recovers, he could still be disoriented for quite awhile and be unable to handle the high stress of close air combat and perhaps not even to fly safely.

There must be solutions to the physiological problems associated with supermaneuverability. G-suits will have to be more responsive. Because G-LOC depends on how high the head is elevated above the heart, the pilot's seat could be reclined. Inclinations of about 65 degrees are needed, so the seat would have to be articulated so the pilot can sit more erect for normal flight and then recline for combat maneuvering. Other solutions could include special drugs. For instance, carbon dioxide injected into the oxygen seems to help, and even the use of "smelling salts" may speed up the recovery of consciousness.

Techniques are needed to detect when the pilot becomes unconscious and automatic flight controls must take over. Because things happen so rapidly in high-performance aircraft, detection must be done instantaneously and preferably before complete pilot blackout. Techniques must have low false alarm rates so that override does not occur while the pilot is conscious and still in control, especially during combat. Some of the methods currently being researched include detecting the drooping or lolling of the pilot's head that is associated with loss of consciousness. There is also the monitoring of the pilot's grip on the controls. A more sophisticated measurement involves sensing the loss of blood pressure pulse in an artery near the brain with a special sensor mounted in the pilot's helmet.

Another technique involves monitoring the pilot's eye-blink rate. It is well known that just before a person blacks out, the eyes stop blinking automatically and there is a fixed stare.

Several detection devices would be used in "jury" fashion to reduce false alarms. Furthermore, this could be augmented by monitoring the G history of the flight and determining when the aircraft is in a high G environment and when override might be needed because of the possibility of blackout."

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