A groundbreaking partnership between Czech F Air and German Astronautin has led to new Pilot Suitability Testing System. Created by F AIR, a leading Czech aerospace company, this innovative system aims to improve how aspiring pilots are evaluated. By leveraging advanced algorithms originally designed for astronaut selection, this project focuses on assessing cognitive abilities, psychomotor skills, and personality traits. The ESA Technology Broker in Czechia played a vital role in connecting F AIR with Astronautin GmbH, facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology from the space sector to aviation. The project received funding through the ESA Spark Funding program, which supports innovative developments in various fields.

Key Players were:

F AIR, spol. s r.o.: Based in Czechia, F AIR has established itself as a prominent name in pilot training, aircraft sales, and maintenance.

Astronautin GmbH: This German company specializes in space HR management and astronaut selection, providing valuable expertise to the project.

Trueapps a.s.: A software development firm from Brno, Czech Republic, responsible for creating the system’s web-based application.

What This System Can Do

The Pilot Suitability Testing System is designed to provide a detailed assessment of pilot candidates by:

• Evaluating Cognitive Skills: Includes tests for mathematical knowledge, logical reasoning, and decision-making under pressure.
• Assessing Psychomotor Abilities: Focuses on hand-eye coordination and multitasking skills.
• Analyzing Personality Traits: Examines personal attributes such as openness and conscientiousness, ensuring candidates are well-suited for the demands of piloting.

Key Benefits

1. Standardized Selection Process: Uses proven algorithms to create an evidence-based recruitment method for flight schools.
2. Customized Training Plans: Identifies strengths and weaknesses in candidates, enabling tailored training programs.
3. Wider Accessibility: Designed to be used by flight training centers and universities across Europe.
4. Improved Safety and Efficiency: Helps enhance training quality, thus increasing safety in aviation operations.

Future Prospects

F AIR expanded this system’s use within various forms of pilot training, addressing the anticipated increasing demand for pilots in the coming years. The collaboration between F AIR, Astronautin GmbH, Trueapps, and the ESA Technology Broker exemplifies how sharing expertise between Czechia and Germany can lead to innovative solutions in pilot training. The Pilot Suitability Testing System is set to enhance the recruitment process, ensuring that future pilots are better prepared for the challenges of flying.

Overall, this project not only bridges a gap in pilot training but also sets a standard for future advancements in both aviation and space-related fields.

From firefighters battling blazes to field police navigating high-tension environments and heavy machinery operators working under duress, ICARUS ARMOR is set to transform workforce safety and performance. The ICARUS ARMOR project, supported by the ESA Technology Broker in Czechia through the ESA Spark Funding initiative, has successfully created a new technology to monitor stress and fatigue in people working in extreme conditions.

Fig. 1. Aleš Svoboda (left) – ESA astronaut reserve member and VIP participant in the testing campaign (photo: BUT)

The Risk: Thermal Stress Impacts

Thermal stress poses a significant threat to human performance, particularly when individuals are required to make critical decisions under pressure. Exposure to extreme temperatures can impair cognitive functions—such as attention, memory, and decision-making—putting workers at risk of accidents and mishaps. Understanding the complex relationship between thermal stress and cognitive dysfunction is imperative for creating effective monitoring systems that can safeguard human effectiveness and safety in demanding environments.

The Smart Solution: Digital Twin Models

The core innovation of ICARUS ARMOR lies in its ability to leverage personalized human digital twin models. Given that individuals under extreme stress often lack the awareness to accurately assess their own stress levels, the project began with creating a comprehensive prototype model during an experimental campaign at the Brno University of Technology’s climate chamber. This campaign evaluated human cognitive performance and physiological responses under varying climatic conditions while subjects engaged in a series of cognitive assessments.

Gathering Valuable Data

During the tests, data was collected through lightweight, non-invasive wearable devices, ensuring comfort without sacrificing accuracy. Notably, volunteers included Aleš Svoboda, a member of the ESA astronaut reserve, underscoring the project’s high-caliber testing environment. The flexibility of the system allows for the inclusion of various wearable devices, making it accessible for a wide range of users and scenarios.

Data Processing and Model Creation

The data gathered was systematically organized in a dedicated database, with biosignals processed and normalized by Uptimai for subsequent analysis. This adaptable approach enables the integration of additional biosignal types as needed, allowing for a constantly evolving monitoring framework.

Uptimai developed mathematical models—referred to as surrogate models—that establish the relationships between physiological responses, environmental conditions, and cognitive load. Importantly, these models can be computed in just minutes, facilitating real-time updates tailored to specific individuals or occupational groups.

User-Friendly Monitoring

In the course of the project, significant insights emerged, notably the conclusion that biosignals recorded from a breathing mask yielded minimal cognitive response data. This insight led to its exclusion from the monitoring suite, prioritizing user comfort while enhancing the overall efficacy of the monitoring environment.

Implementation of Active Monitoring

Evident in the workflow depicted in Figure 4, the Uptimai software platform plays a crucial role in managing live monitoring. As the user moves through their tasks, data from their wearables is relayed to the database, processed by Uptimai’s proprietary scripts, and funneled into the previously calibrated surrogate model. This sophisticated analysis allows for real-time assessment of an individual’s cognitive load, providing alerts if they are nearing their operational limits.

Benefits of ICARUS ARMOR

Versatility

• Customizable Hardware: The ICARUS ARMOR platform can accommodate a variety of wearables, catering to the specific needs and preferences of different users and situations.

Quick Adaptation

• Rapid Model Updates: The mathematical models can be refreshed in minutes, ensuring that both individual workers and professional teams are supported with up-to-date insights.

Enhanced Safety and Efficiency

• Proactive Alerts: The system actively warns monitored personnel when their cognitive performance dips, enabling timely interventions and protecting workers in hazardous settings.

The ICARUS ARMOR project stands as a testament to the power of innovative monitoring technologies in safeguarding human performance in challenging environments. By applying thorough research and advanced data processing techniques, this ESA Spark-funded initiative is paving the way for a safer, more efficient future for professionals operating under thermal stress.

For more information about the ESA Technology Broker and the ICARUS ARMOR project, stay connected!

Svarovsky, s.r.o. is the largest European manufacturer of white canes with a 20-year tradition. They produce circa 18,000 items annually, of which 90% of them are intended for export.
Czech Space Research Center company participated on the European Laser Timing project – ESA ACES experiment. This project used the principle of detecting the impact of a photon sent by a laser on a SPAD (Single Photon Avalanche Diode) sensor. The moment of photon impact is sensed by the SPAD detector with such a resolution that it allows the calculation of the distance with very high accuracy.
Svarovsky, s.r.o. decided to use this sensor technology to create a device that could be integrated into the handle of a blind cane and would allow the user to keep an awareness of their surroundings using an acoustic signal or vibration.
The project was scouted by Technology Centre Prague and supported by €60,000 from the ESA Spark Funding programme within the project ESA Technology Broker.

Argotech is a Czech research and development company specializing in optics, electronics, and mechanics. To improve services in the field of Photonics Integrated Circuits (PIC), the company sought cooperation with ESA Technology Broker. The company specialize on bidirectional optical components (BIDI) for high-speed communication on a single optical fibre.

To ensure the BIDI technology resistance, the company conducts simulations to test an electron flow and high-frequency signals and electromagnetic interference. However, these tests were very time demanding. The modelling could last up to 8 days. The company contacted ESA Technology Brokers in TC Prague who then brought Argotech into contact with the German company CST specializing in analytical software for electromagnetic components and systems.

Originally developed software was used for simulation and design optimalization of Photonics Integrated Circuits (PIC) which were used for duplex high data rate communication over a single optical fibre. By using this software optimized for space application design, the time to test a PIC design was reduced from days to hours, with more accurate calculations.