US 7,027,621 B1 · Method and apparatus for operator condition monitoring and assessment

Abstract

A system using passive infrared imaging of the face and other body parts of an operator to obtain observables by automatically extracting features from a sequence of images, analyzing the extracted features, and then assessing the results for indicators of performance of a task by the operator in order to provide early warning of potential cognitive or motor impairment and thereby facilitate risk reduction and quality maintenance. The infrared condition monitoring system (IR-CMS) serves to a) assess cognitive and/or physical readiness to perform a particular task; b) provide condition assessment feedback to the subject and his appropriate supervisors; c) activate measures to increase short-term alertness and other readiness factors; d) limit potential risks by restricting the subject's access, responsibility, or authority; and e) facilitate rapid medical treatment, evacuation, quarantine, re-training, or counseling as appropriate. The same condition monitoring and assessment system can also be used during training and simulator exercises to evaluate personnel for assignment.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A system for monitoring and assessing the condition of human operators, comprising:

an infrared camera, said camera providing passive thermal image sequences of the face of an operator;
means for spatially orienting said face on each image by extracting a plurality of features from each image in said thermal image sequences with reference to a bilateral symmetry of the face with respect to each of said plurality of features said spatially oriented face being divided into a grid of cells, each said thermal image recording a temperature for each cell on said grid;
means for analyzing said sequence of thermal images, said analysis being able to determine variation in spatial orientation of said face and variation in temperature of each cell in said grid and variation in temperature and position of said features on said face of said operator;
means for using said analysis to assess a condition of said operator, said condition being defined with respect to performance of a task by said operator, said assessment having reference to data particular to said condition and task and being correlated with one or more of said variations determined by said analysis.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for operator condition monitoring and assessment

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for operator condition monitoring and assessment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22