System and method for detecting the positioning of a person relative to a seat

A system to detect the positioning of a pilot relative to a seat in an aircraft, comprising:

• a plurality of objects disposed on the seat in a predetermined pattern;
• an image sensor mounted in the aircraft and directed toward the seat, the image sensor configured to capture images of the pilot and the seat and to supply image data indicative of the captured images;
• and
• a processing system mounted in the aircraft and in operable communication with the image sensor, the processing system configured to receive and automatically process the image data to determine that the pilot is not in a first position in the seat for a first predetermined time period based on which of the plurality of objects are visible in the captured images thereby indicating that the pilot is incapacitated or at least not sufficiently vigilant and (ii) generate an alert signal when the image sensor is not focused on the pilot for the first predetermined time;
• and
• an alert generator mounted in the aircraft and coupled to receive the alert signal from the processing system and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate one or more of an audible, visual, and haptic alert to thereby alert the pilot or other persons that the pilot is incapacitated or at least not sufficiently vigilant.

A system to detect the positioning of a pilot relative to a seat in an aircraft, comprising:

• a plurality of illuminators mounted in the aircraft and configured to emit light, in a predetermined illumination pattern, onto the pilot;
• an image sensor mounted in the aircraft and directed toward the seat, the image sensor configured to capture images of the pilot and the illumination pattern and to supply image data indicative of the captured images;
• a processing system mounted in the aircraft and in operable communication with the image sensor, the processing system configured to receive and automatically process the image data to sense variations in the illumination pattern emitted onto the pilot thereby indicating that the pilot is incapacitated or at least not sufficiently vigilant and (ii) generate an alert signal when the image sensor is not focused on the pilot for the first predetermined time;
• and
• an alert generator mounted in the aircraft and coupled to receive the alert signal from the processing system and configured, upon receipt thereof, to generate one or more of an audible, visual, and haptic alert to thereby alert the pilot or other persons that the pilot is incapacitated or at least not sufficiently vigilant.