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Here is a link to locomotive alerters that describes the problem of alerters warning when no fatigue issue is present.  It describes how excessive unnecessary warnings are lead to reset routine, and the routine becomes so automatic that engineers can sleep while performing it.  It talks about a new generation of smarter alerters being developed:  <o:p></o:p> <a href="http://mvl.mit.edu/MVLpubs/OmanLiu_AlerterTechnologyAssessment_2007.pdf">http://mvl.mit.edu/MVLpubs/OmanLiu_AlerterTechnologyAssessment_2007.pdf</a>  <o:p></o:p> This report has a lot of interesting information on alerters and the issues with them.  Particularly interesting is the description of the Macdona, TX collision starting on page 29.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Here is a link to several high tech objectives for railroads:   <o:p></o:p> <a href="http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/887.shtml">http://www.fra.dot.gov/Pages/887.shtml</a>  <o:p></o:p> Note the title and first sentence:  <o:p></o:p> “A Vision For The Future: Intelligent Railroad Systems.  A theme cutting across virtually all the RD&D program elements is the use of sensors, computers, and digital communications to collect, process, and disseminate information to improve safety, security, and operational effectiveness of railroads.”   <o:p></o:p> Note the paragraph in the 7th section of the page about real-time monitoring and feedback of individual alertness levels.  When I read this whole page, I find the implications staggering.  It is as if the sky is the limit for new control systems for everything that can be imagined.  <o:p></o:p> Quoted from the link:  <o:p></o:p> "Crew alertness monitoring systems promote on-duty alertness and vigilance of train crews through the use of non-invasive technology applications. Mental lapses and other human errors that result in unsafe safe job performance are often due to reduced alertness or vigilance. Real time monitoring and feedback of individual alertness levels will allow crew members to modify their behavior and reduce their risk of unsafe performance. Risk-appropriate countermeasures, such as napping, social interaction, and postural changes, will be suggested by the system, and in the case of high risk (e.g., the crewmember falls asleep), the system can both notify the control center over the digital data link communications network and stop the train. Real time monitoring and feedback of population alertness levels will allow managers to dynamically adjust work schedules and help ensure the most well-rested individuals, or teams, are available for high-risk assignments. Models of fatigue and alertness in the system will accurately predict future risk of non-alertness in individuals and groups of individuals so that countermeasures can be applied to maintain optimal performance either before or throughout a work shift."
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