Collision avoidance technique used by the major railroads of the us still rely on the alertness of the locomotive engineer to see and respond to warning signals displayed in the engine compartment and along the right-of-way. So long as the engineer remains alert, the system works well, but when the engineer is not quick to perceive and react to dander signals, the system fails. Maintaining engineer alertness can be accomplished if it can be ascertained when the engineer is not alert. Recent research into phusioysiologic changes that accompany reduced awareness state indicates testhat measurable changes, do, in factr, accompany these se states. This proposal addresses the technical requirements for such a physiologic monitor, with considerations given toease of donning, engineer stress and fatigue, accuracy of results etc. An operational prototype will be constructedas a result of this proposal and will demonstrate the feasibility of this method.
