INTRODUCTION: The main aim of this study was to differentiate the magnitude of a pilot’s heart rate variability (HRV) when performing assisted and unassisted flights, as well as simple and complex flight tasks.METHODS: Cardiac monitoring in flights was carried out using a compact, mobile ECG recorder. A frequency analysis of the heart rate (HR) signal was performed to determine the ratio of low-frequency spectral power (LF) to high-frequency spectral power (HF).RESULTS: The LF/HF ratio observed in the zone (M = 1.047, SD = 0.059) was significantly different than the LF/HF calculated preflight (M = 0.877, SD = 0.043) and postflight (M = 0.793, SD = 0.037). There was no main effect of the flight type (unassisted zone flight vs. zone flight with an instructor) on the LF/HF parameter. However, greater psychophysiological load of a pilot was observed in the training zone flights when compared to simple circle flights (main effect of the flight type).CONCLUSIONS: As the LF/HF ratio turned out to be significantly higher in the zone than pre- and postflight, this parameter can be useful for predicting the risk of excessive stress and arousal of pilots during flights. Based on the LF/HF ratio we can also estimate difficulty level of flight tasks, because our research has shown higher values of this parameter in the training zone flights than in simple circle flights.Skibniewski FW, Dziuda Ł, Baran PM, Krej MK, Guzowski S, Piotrowski MA, Truszczyński OE. Preliminary results of the LF/HF ratio as an indicator for estimating difficulty level of flight tasks. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2015; 86(6):518–523.

This paper presents a camera-based prototype sensor for detecting fatigue and drowsiness in drivers, which are common causes of road accidents. The evaluation of the detector operation involved eight professional truck drivers, who drove the truck simulator twice—i.e., when they were rested and drowsy. The Fatigue Symptoms Scales (FSS) questionnaire was used to assess subjectively perceived levels of fatigue, whereas the percentage of eye closure time (PERCLOS), eye closure duration (ECD), and frequency of eye closure (FEC) were selected as eye closure-associated fatigue indicators, determined from the images of drivers’ faces captured by the sensor. Three alternative models for subjective fatigue were used to analyse the relationship between the raw score of the FSS questionnaire, and the eye closure-associated indicators were estimated. The results revealed that, in relation to the subjective assessment of fatigue, PERCLOS is a significant predictor of the changes observed in individual subjects during the performance of tasks, while ECD reflects the individual differences in subjective fatigue occurred both between drivers and in individual drivers between the ‘rested’ and ‘drowsy’ experimental conditions well. No relationship between the FEC index and the FSS state scale was found.

This paper is aimed at presenting basic technical properties and possibilities of using the truck simulator owned by the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine (MIAM). The truck driving simulator is a stationary device, equipped with a six degrees of freedom (6 DoF|) motion system and reproducing the functionality of a truck on the basis of the Mercedes Benz Actros cabin. It is intended for conducting research as well as training truck drivers in simulated traffic conditions.

The article reviews the technical solutions of devices that enable the patient to monitor selected medical parameters in time. The authors referred to solutions that record data in internal memory as well as solutions enabling direct transmission of medical data, including information on the current location of the patient in the open space and inside buildings. The latest technical solutions of subassemblies allowing us to design a functionally optimised patient monitoring system in the field of sensor and telecommunications technology were also reviewed. Finally, the authors proposed preliminary assumptions for a functionally optimised patient monitoring system.

Introduction: Modern combat aircraft increase the psychophysiological demands placed on pilots [14]. This necessitates continuous improvement of methods for assessing fitness for flight duty, supported by specialized flight simulators. One such simulator, developed with the participation of the Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, is the stationary flight simulator named SymuLBNP. In the presented study, a criterion of 10% threshold was proposed for evaluating the symmetry of lower limb pressure force on the rudder pedals of the diagnostic and training stand for anti-G maneuver training, which may be applied in future research using the SymuLBNP simulator. The aim of the study was to evaluate the symmetry of lower limb pressure force on the rudder pedals of the diagnostic and training stand for anti-G maneuver training, recorded during scheduled pilot training in aviation medicine, as a factor potentially influencing the results of measuring lower limb pressure force on the rudder pedals of the SymuLBNP simulator. Methods: The study utilized pressure force measurement data on the rudder pedals of the diagnostic and training stand, recorded during routine pilot training in aviation medicine. The statistical analysis was conducted on the measurement results of a group of 258 men aged 18 to 25 years. Differences between the pressure force exerted by the left lower limb and the right lower limb were examined. Results: The analysis of the lower limb pressure force measurements on the pedals of the diagnostic and training stand revealed a statistically significant (alpha = 0.05) asymmetry in the pressure force applied to the rudder pedals by the lower limbs. Based on the analysis of additional parameters describing the obtained results, a criterion was adopted stating that if the value of the symmetry index does not exceed 10%, it can be assumed that the pressure forces exerted by the pilot on the rudder pedals with the left and right lower limbs are symmetrical and will not significantly affect the assessment of the muscular component of the anti-G maneuver performed on the SymuLBNP simulator.