Fit for duty |
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Background
What are fit for duty tests?
Before starting a potentially risky operation fit for duty tests may be presented to the
driver on a Palm Computer. The test results indicate if the driver is in a proper
state to drive, i.e. not fatigued to a critical extent.
The data obtained are telematically transferred to a computer comparing the present
performance with stored data on the driver's performance in a clearly awake state.
Impairments can be reported immediately to both the driver and the scheduler.
Requirements and kinds of fit for duty tests
Fit for duty tests should be sensitive to the effects of fatigue or other performance degrading
influences. Possible fit for duty tests are reaction time tests or the unstable tracking task.
Most importantly, tests should be easy to perform and valid. Unfortunately, several problems
arise similar to those mentioned with driver assistance systems.
Problems of fit for duty tests
First, it is necessary to find a behavioral parameter, which properly reflects fatigue or decreased fitness
in a proper way. Second, one has to determine the critical threshold of the dependent variable
above which the driver is adviced not to drive. Due to larger inter- and also intraindividual differences,
this appears to be very difficult.
Activities
Experiments are being conducted to find out adequate behavioral measures and threshold values, i.e. to validate fit for duty tests.
Members of the working group
Speaker: Prof. Dr. Friedhelm Nachreiner,
University of Oldenburg
German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Karel Marsalek
Technical University of Aachen, Prof. Dr. Günter Debus
University of Applied Sciences Schmalkalden, Prof. Dr. Martin Golz
University of Dortmund, Prof. Dr. Michael Kastner
University of Würzburg, Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Krüger
University of Wuppertal, Prof. Dr. Rainer Wieland
Volkswagen AG
For more information on the institutions see Members
