Patent ID: 7155034

Claim:
An authorized pilot detection system for controlling an aircraft, said system comprising: an interlock for enabling/disabling one of a control wheel and a joystick for controlling movement of an aircraft; a biometric grip detector arranged on said one of a control and joy stick, said biometric grip detector comprising a plurality of pressure sensors for sensing a handgrip of a user on said one of a control wheel and joystick; comparator means for comparing a pressure signature profile compiled from an output from the plurality of pressure sensors with at least one pressure signature profile comprising: (a) hand position of the user's handgrip on said one of a control wheel and joystick as indicated by a change in pressure on at least one of the plurality of pressure sensors; (b) pressure as a function of position on said one of a control wheel and joystick; and (c) pressure as a function of time; control means for disabling the interlock to allow control of movement of the aircraft by said one of a control wheel and joy stick when said comparator means indicates that the signature profile compiled by said comparator means matches at least one pressure signature profile in storage, wherein said comparator means compares signature profiles sensed by the biometric grip detector at predetermined intervals during operation, and wherein said control means enables the interlock to prevent navigation of the aircraft by steering said one a control wheel and joystick, and said control means activates at least one of an autopilot, a flight director and a flight management system to control navigation of the aircraft automatically when a signature profile compiled by said comparator means does not match said at least one signature profile in storage.