System for detecting microphone communications made under stress, and for mitigating propagation of stressed voice communications

Abstract

A system to improve pilot voice communication includes: a microphone capturing pilot speech during operational use of an aircraft; and an audio subsystem that stores recordings of the captured pilot speech during different periods of the operational use. A pilot recording selection graphic user interface permits selection by the pilot of recordings made during a low stress period of his/her operational use of the aircraft, and one or more recordings made during a high stress period. A training algorithm analyzes characteristics of the selected recordings made during the low stress period to set a baseline. The training algorithm subsequently analyzes real-time pilot speech to ascertain when its characteristics are increased by a threshold amount over the baseline, which is classified as speech made under stress. The audio system alters and improves the analyzed real-time speech made under stress by converting it to normal-sounding speech, minimizing propagation of stressed speech.