The system, which is under development, would assist pilots in accommodating for failures which may lead to airplane crashes, said Kevin Passino, an assistant professor of electrical engineering at Ohio State University. But because a catastrophic event often happens fast, and given the level of stress and confusion during these incidents, it is understandable that a pilot may not find the solution intime to save the aircraft. Passino and Stephen Yurkovich, an associate professor of electrical engineering at Ohio State, wanted to develop a control system that would automate pilot expertise and take action to save the aircraft as soon as an error is noticed.
Fuzzy logic is a method to give inexact operating instructions to machines.
It takes into account the vagueness present in many situations, such as an emergency on an airplane. An engine and hydraulic system malfunction on the DC-10 wasn't detected in time for pilots to save the plane. Studies of the crash on a simulator suggested the plane could have been flown successfully despite the problems, Passino said. A fuzzy logic system may have been able to warn pilots of the failure of the hydraulic system in time for them to make necessary adjustments. Or, a fuzzy logic system may be able to make the necessary adjustments in the aircraft controls to save the flight.