WO2004008418A1

WO2004008418A1 - Routine checker

Info

Publication number: WO2004008418A1
Application number: PCT/AU2003/000884
Authority: WO
Inventors: Colin Ross Joy
Original assignee: Aironautical Electronics Corporation Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-07-10
Filing date: 2003-07-10
Publication date: 2004-01-22
Also published as: AU2002950094A0

Abstract

An aid for undertaking a routine checking procedure including means to step through such a routine, adapted to provide an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order, with activator means being operated to move to the next step when the result of the routine step is normal. The aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure, this emergency routine check being in general the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency routine check. The means to request an emergency routine check may be provided by a first manually accessible member and the means to step through the routine is provided by a second manually accessible member, the two members being adjacent.

Description

ROUTINE CHECKER

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to routine checkers and in particular checkers that can assist in times of greater need.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of checking references is known where for instance routine checking continues to be used by a pilot in relation to preparation and flying of an aircraft. Such an application is indicative but not comprehensive. It is currently known to have assistance when routine checking is required. There are for instance books that are used so that for instance an aeroplane pilot can use a step by step procedure as set down. If an emergency occurs there is also provided a checking procedure that can be read that applies for any stage of the routine. This type of routine list checking using voluminous paper based, cross-referenced folders is also used in many other fields, as for example, surgery. What we have discovered however is that this current widely used system has difficulties.

In an emergency the implicit nature of emergency is that there may be demands on the checker which will be unpredictable and on some occasions will require the attention of the checker that makes following a written instruction difficult or perhaps impossible.

We have developed an improved procedure checking apparatus which provides an improved concept in relation to access to emergency procedures and also assists in making sure that checking procedures and their order are not lost if an emergency procedure is called for during such routine checking.

An object of this invention is to provide an answer to this described difficulty or at the least provide the public with an advantageous alternative. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form of this invention there is proposed an aid for a routine checking procedure which includes means to step through such a routine with one or more means providing an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order, characterised in that the aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure and this being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency check.

In preference such means to request an emergency routine check are a manually accessible member that is in an adjacent vicinity to a step through activator member.

Typically then there will be two buttons one alongside the other so that routine checking can be achieved by activating one button and if an emergency occurs then it is simply a matter of the routine checker changing over to the emergency activator. It is implicit that the routine check is at a stage that corresponds to the status of whatever is being checked. Accordingly it is then a simple transition that allows for the transfer from routine checking to emergency checking.

The output can be typically a verbal message activated upon each step through a request. In this case then the transfer from routine to emergency at a correct stage is achieved very simply by shifting from pressing one button to pressing an alternate alongside the first. With a verbal instruction available this then allows for a maximum of attention to be available to the checker for attending to the emergency.

Also, it implicitly allows for a single person to operate the stepping through procedures and the emergency checking without needing a second person.

In a further form the invention can be said to reside in a computer providing assistance for routine checking procedures which computer includes means adapted to upon activation on a step by step basis to step through a routine checking procedure with one or more means providing an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step to be performed in a preset order, characterised in that the computer further includes a means to initiate an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure and this being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency check.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of this invention it will now be described in relation to embodiments which shall now be described with the assistance of drawings wherein:

Fig 1 is an illustration of an embodiment with a control handle with an associated keypad; and a multi-line text display with an associated spoken word output;

Fig 2 shows the keypad and display apparatus; and

Fig 3 is a schematic representation of the method of using the device.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiment of Fig 1 is intended for aeronautical use, so control is provided by a joystick 1 arrangement. Control input is also provided by a 9-button keypad 2. Output is available from a voice synthesiser arrangement (not shown), and a multi-line text display 3. There is also a backup battery 4 allowing the system to operate for extended periods independently of an external power source.

For every type of aircraft, there exist checklists which seek to cover every imaginable permutation of normal and abnormal behaviour which might be encountered by an aircraft in service. These can be divided into four general classes. The NORMAL list contains the checks to be done in normal operation. The ABNORMAL list is a fault finding/clearing list which is entered when an item in the NORMAL list is found to be in an abnormal condition. The EMERGENCY list contains the items to be checked through in a variety of possible emergency situations. There may also be a CUSTOM list which contains such things as abbreviated versions of the normal checklists or checklists annotated with details specific to that individual aircraft or operating area.

Fig 3 shows the logical progression of use of the system. The pilot or other member of the flight deck crew, begins the checklist at the first NORMAL item 30. The detail of the item is displayed on the screen 3 and read out by the voice synthesiser. As each item is checked with a normal result, the pilot advances to the next item by pressing the button 5 on the joystick. This advance can also be achieved by pressing the LINE-ADV key 20 on the keypad.

If the item does not check normal, the fault finding/clearing checklist appropriate to that item 31 is entered by pressing the AB-NORM-PAGES button 21 on the keypad. This list is then run through item by item by use of the line advance function, that is by pressing the joystick button 5 or the keypad key 20. At the end of this checklist, the fault condition has been dealt with, and the system returns to the item in the NORMAL list from which the branch to the ABNORMAL list occurred.

At any point in the process, the CUSTOM list 32, 33 associated with an item in the NORMAL or ABNORMAL lists may be entered by pressing the CUSTOM- PAGES button 22. This list is then progressed through using the line advance function. On completion of the list, the system returns to the checklist item from which the branch to the CUSTOM list occurred.

The apparatus is constantly active during the operation, with pre-f light lists, take-off lists, general flight lists and landing lists being worked through. Thus the system keeps track of the last completed checklist point, even when it is not actively ^~ moving through a list. At any time, an unexpected emergency may occur. The emergency button 6 on the joystick is then pressed to gain access to the emergency checklist 34, 35 appropriate to the stage of flight the aircraft is in, based on the position the system is in the checklist data structure. This list may also be accessed by pressing the EMERG-PAGES button 23 on the keypad. The emergency checklist is worked through using the line advance function, allowing the pilot to continue concentrating on flying the aircraft.

The items of the routine check are provided to the apparatus in the form of text, and may be displayed in this form. The verbal output is provided by a text to speech processor.

As is now seen, the concept of providing a very easily accessible selection to an emergency check list provides significant advantages. In a further embodiment, the system is used by a surgeon. In complex surgical procedures, a member of the theatre staff is occupied reading out to the surgical team the checklist for the procedure. The anaesthetist will require a different check list to the surgeon. The logical structure of the checklists, moving between NORMAL, ABNORMAL, CUSTOM and EMERGENCY lists will be similar to the previous embodiment, with the detail of the items being replaced with the appropriate checklist items for the surgical procedure being performed. In this embodiment, the joy stick control is replaced by a foot operated control arrangement, having the same line advance and emergency selection functions.

Throughout this specification the purpose has been to illustrate and not limit the invention.

Claims

1. An aid for undertaking a routine checking procedure said aid including step through activator means to step through such a routine, adapted to provide an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order, said activator means being operated to move to the next step when the result of the routine step is normal.

2. The aid of claim 1 further including means to indicate that the result of the routine check is other than normal, characterised in that the aid will respond to such indication by outputting a further routine check procedure said further procedure being that required to be stepped through when that routine check result is other than normal.

3. The aid of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure this emergency routine check being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency routine check.

4. The aid of claim 3 wherein the means to request an emergency routine check is provided by a first manually accessible member and the step through activator means is provided by a second manually accessible member the two said members being in an adjacent vicinity.

5. The aid of claim 4 wherein the first manually accessible member and the second manually accessible member s are push-buttons.An aid for a routine checking procedure which includes means to step through such a routine with one or more means providing an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order, characterised in that the aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure and this being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency check.

6. An aid for a routine checking procedure which includes means to step through such a routine with one or more means providing an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order, characterised in that the aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure and this being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency check.

7. The aid of any one of the preceding claims wherein the output of the aid includes a verbal message.

8. The aid of claim 7 wherein the content of the verbal message is initially provided in text form and is rendered into verbal form by a text to speech processor.

9. The aid of any one of the preceding claims wherein the output of the aid includes a text display.

10. An aid for undertaking a routine checking procedure including a computer which computer includes means adapted to upon activation on a step by step basis to step through a routine checking procedure with one or more means providing an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step to be performed in a preset order, characterised in that the computer further includes a means to initiate an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure and this being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency check.

11. A method for undertaking a routine checking procedure including the steps of providing a list of steps for a routine check providing an aid said aid including activator means adapted to step through such a routine check and one or more output means adapted to provide an output to a checker to remind the checker of the routine step required to be performed in a preset order in the case where the result of the routine check step is normal, operating said activator means to step through items of the routine check, in the case where the result of the routine check step is other than normal, operating alternative means to access alternative routine check steps appropriate to such a response.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the aid further includes a means to request an emergency routine check at any time through the routine checking procedure, this emergency routine check being adapted to be the emergency steps of checking required at the corresponding routine step at which the checking is at the time of the emergency routine check.

13. An aid for undertaking a routine checking procedure substantially as described with respect to any one of the embodiments in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying illustrations with respect to that embodiment.