新的设备能够检测出飞行员的晕厥

New Device May Help Jet Pilots 新的设备能够检测出飞行员的晕厥

While flying high above Earth’s surface, jet fighter pilots may suffer loss of eyesight for brief periods. Some pilots may even lose consciousness¹ -- not being able to recognize what is happening around them. These experiences, commonly called blackouts, can lead to tragic² results.

Now, an Israeli company says it has developed a device that could save pilots’ lives at such times.

Yaron Kranz is senior research and development director at Elbit Systems. He is also a retired³ fighter pilot. He says two different situations can lead to a pilot’s loss of consciousness.

“One is ‘G-LOC’ or G Loss of Consciousness, and the other one is hypoxia, which is lack of oxygen to the brain.”

G-LOC happens when the airplane is making a sharp turn or speeding up very quickly. During these periods, centrifugal force reduces the normal flow of blood to the pilot’s brain. At high speeds, loss of control of the aircraft has proved deadly for many pilots.

Hypoxia, or lack of oxygen, can affect anyone at extreme heights. That is why passenger planes are equipped with oxygen masks. Passengers are always told before flying to put on the masks in case of a sudden loss of air pressure.

Current devices for preventing such dangerous situations are very large. So Elbit Systems and a small start-up company, called LifeBEAM, developed a system they are calling Canary. It uses small, non-invasive sensing equipment. Yaron Kranz says the sensors⁴ are built into the helmet worn by the pilot.

“The pilot doesn’t have to do anything in order to activate⁵ those sensors and they are small enough and wise enough to give the information to gather the physiological⁶ data that is required.”

By physiological data, he means information related to the processes and activities that keep the person alive. When the danger is real, the system sends a message to the visor on the front of the helmet. If it senses that the pilot has lost consciousness, it tells the plane’s computer to activate the autopilot. The autopilot will then take control of the plane’s movement until the pilot wakes up.

Elbit Systems is now developing its Canary device for U.S. F-35 fighter jets and other aircraft.

Words in This Story

consciousness – n. knowing about the world around you

blackout – n. loss of consciousness for a brief period; unable to react to people around you or your surroundings

centrifugal – adj. relating to a movement away from the center

visor – n. a device that protects the eyes from the sun or other light

1 consciousness   

n.意识，觉悟，知觉

参考例句：

• The experience helped to change her social consciousness.这种经验有助于改变她的社会意识。
• He lost consciousness at the first whiff of ether.他一嗅到乙醚便失去了知觉。

2 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

3 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

4 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

5 activate   

vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用

参考例句：

• We must activate the youth to study.我们要激励青年去学习。
• These push buttons can activate the elevator.这些按钮能启动电梯。

6 physiological   

adj.生理学的，生理学上的

参考例句：

• He bought a physiological book.他买了一本生理学方面的书。
• Every individual has a physiological requirement for each nutrient.每个人对每种营养成分都有一种生理上的需要。