Neuroscience for tomorrow's aircraft?
The aerospace sector is in a state of flux: artificial intelligence, increasing automation, new safety requirements, and so on. All these challenges have one thing in common: the complex relationship between man and machine. To tackle these new issues, ONERA knows how to recruit outside its core business.
Bertille Somon has a dual sensitivity to both humans and machines. She began her career by taking the medical entrance exam, obtaining a classification that subsequently enabled her to pursue a degree in biomedical engineering (the only degree of its kind in France). This dual approach was ideal for her to join ONERA's ICNA team. She explains: "We model the reactions of pilots, through their behaviour, or systems measuring human activity such as electroencephalography, MRI or electrocardiography, which requires skills in physiology to carry out these tests and above all to understand the data. At the same time, I use my other engineering hat to design the experiments and analyse and exploit the results".
After completing her thesis at ONERA, Bertille began her career at ISAE-SUPAERO. But after being courted by various other laboratories because of the atypical nature of her background and training, Bertille was finally caught up by ONERA: "I had done my thesis there, precisely on the subject of applied cognitive sciences. And as ONERA had opened up a position in the unit that had hosted me, we both said to ourselves: I might as well capitalise on my background!". Today, Bertille is adding to the ranks of this very special unit, built up as the specific scientific needs it investigates grow, always with a focus on human-system integration.
ONERA has a unit with specific skills. Focus on ICNA
What if we had to analyse the workings of the pilot's brain to help design systems that provide the best possible control of the machine? This is the challenge facing the ICNA unit of the Information Processing and Systems department, based in Salon de Provence. This nugget of 15 permanent staff includes 5 specialists in neurophysiology, an 'extra' skill at ONERA since this is not its 'core business'.
The team is working on projects to understand how people react to complex cockpits, stressful situations and fatigue. These are all parameters for which neuroscience is essential. Ultimately, the aim is to improve flight safety and operational performance.
An illustration of ONERA's ability to remain agile in its recruitment and adapt to changes in aerospace professions.