ITiSB Develops New Technology to Help Pilots Anticipate Risks and Prevent In-Flight Emergencies

Detecting signs of fatigue, hypoxia, or cognitive overload in pilots can mean the difference between a safe flight and a serious accident. With that in mind, an interdisciplinary team from UNAB and the Chilean Air Force developed the Aircrew Health Monitor, a portable device that tracks crew health and environmental conditions during flight.

The project, funded by the FONDEF IT 2025 grant from Chile’s National Agency for Research and Development (ANID), aims to prevent risks linked to human error — the cause of approximately 75 percent of aviation accidents worldwide. “Our goal is to use locally developed technology to identify early signs of fatigue or oxygen deficiency before they become operational issues,” said Dr. Carla Taramasco, Director of ITiSB and one of the project’s principal investigators.

In addition to improving safety, the project has clear economic implications. Accidents and failures caused by human error cost the global aviation industry nearly USD 17 billion each year. “A predictive monitoring system not only saves lives but can also significantly reduce the cost of incidents, delays, and productivity losses,” added Taramasco.

How It Works

The Aircrew Health Monitor combines biomedical sensors — measuring oxygen saturation, heart rate, respiration, body temperature, and muscle activity — with environmental sensors that track barometric pressure, CO₂ levels, altitude, and geolocation. All of this data is processed by a microcontroller with satellite connectivity, enabling real-time monitoring even on long-haul flights or in remote areas.

On the ground, a smart dashboard analyzes the data and triggers automatic alerts when anomalies are detected. The system also incorporates artificial intelligence and machine learning, enabling it to build predictive models that can anticipate adverse physiological conditions.

“This project combines health, engineering, and aviation into a single solution that is unique in Latin America,” said Dr. Diego Robles, ITiSB research professor and alternate project lead. “It is a decisive step toward predictive, adaptive prevention in aviation.”

Pilot Testing and Broader Applications

Initial validation of the device will take place in partnership with the Aerospace Medicine Center (CMAE) of the Chilean Air Force. Colonel Claudio Montiglio, Director of the CMAE, highlighted the technology’s broader potential: “This device could be applied in many fields, especially in extreme working conditions such as high-altitude mining, wildfire response, firefighting, elite sports, and long-distance transport.”

Beyond its social and economic impact, the project will enhance national capacity in occupational health and operational safety, laying the groundwork for a university spin-off to bring the technology to market within the next 24 months.