Optimizing Human-Automation Team Workload through a Non-Invasive Detection System

This STTR project aims to assess the feasibility of using laryngeal EMG to detect operator workload and strain. Phase I will develop a wearable neckband device positioning an array of laryngeal EMG electrodes plus additional sensors for measuring masseter EMG, heart rate variability, GSR and estimated relative blood pressure. The neckband will be optimized to be both wearable, comfortable and resilient against motion artifacts. In tandem with hardware development, the Phase I effort will play a series of experiments, including flight simulator and inflight components, designed to elicit subject strain across a range of tasks. Phase II will further refine the hardware, carry out the studies with the end goal of providing the first comprehensive laryngeal EMG versus workload strain datasets to begin the development of automated algorithms.