Pilot Behavior Recognition Based on Multi-Modality Fusion Technology Using Physiological Characteristics

With the development of the autopilot system, the main task of a pilot has changed from controlling the aircraft to supervising the autopilot system and making critical decisions. Therefore, the human–machine interaction system needs to be improved accordingly. A key step to improving the human–machine interaction system is to improve its understanding of the pilots’ status, including fatigue, stress, workload, etc. Monitoring pilots’ status can effectively prevent human error and achieve optimal human–machine collaboration. As such, there is a need to recognize pilots’ status and predict the behaviors responsible for changes of state. For this purpose, in this study, 14 Air Force cadets fly in an F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter simulator through a series of maneuvers involving takeoff, level flight, turn and hover, roll, somersault, and stall. Electro cardio (ECG), myoelectricity (EMG), galvanic skin response (GSR), respiration (RESP), and skin temperature (SKT) measurements are derived through wearable physiological data collection devices. Physiological indicators influenced by the pilot’s behavioral status are objectively analyzed. Multi-modality fusion technology (MTF) is adopted to fuse these data in the feature layer. Additionally, four classifiers are integrated to identify pilots’ behaviors in the strategy layer. The results indicate that MTF can help to recognize pilot behavior in a more comprehensive and precise way.