Dual use applications of hazard monitoring: commercial and military aviation and beyond

Abstract

Hazard Monitoring is an innovative approach to addressing the problem of human error in complex systems: our Hazard Monitor aids the operator in recovery from hazardous situations, rather than attempting to prevent operator errors. A hazardous situation is one which may result in a Range of negative consequences, from a violation of system guidelines to a loss of equipment, or even loss of life. When the Hazard Monitor detects a hazardous situation, it creates a message and dispatches it to the operators, so that they become aware of and can remedy the situation before the negative consequences occur. Because the Hazard Monitor considers system states in relation to ongoing system activities, it is able to tailor the messages, adjusting both timing and content to reflect the context of the predicted consequences. By prompting for operator action to avert consequences as hazards arise, but remaining silent when operations are normal, the Hazard Monitor serves an unobtrusive operator aid, functioning without direct operator control. Hazard Monitoring technology has been designed as a general purpose technology, capable of assisting complex system operators in a wide variety of domains. This paper describes the Hazard Monitoring technology and its application in both military and commercial avionics domains, as well as other, non-avionics domains.