Showing papers on "Situation awareness published in 1994"

Situation awareness information requirements for en route air traffic control.

Abstract: : Situation awareness is presented as a fundamental requirement for effective air traffic control, forming the basis for controller decision making and performance. To develop a better understanding of the role of situation awareness in air traffic control, an analysis was performed to determine the specific situation awareness information requirements for air traffic control. This was conducted as a goal-directed task analysis in which the major goals, subgoals, decisions and associated situation awareness information requirements for En Route Air Traffic Control (ATC) were delineated based on elicitation from eight experienced Air Traffic Control Specialists (ATCSs). This effort was supported by available task analyses and video-tapes of simulated ATC tasks. A determination of the major situation awareness information requirements for En Route ATC was developed from this analysis, providing a foundation for future system development which seeks to enhance controller situation awareness and provides a basis for the development of situation awareness measures for air traffic control.

Situation Awareness Information Requirements Analysis for En Route Air Traffic Control

Abstract: Situation awareness is a fundamental requirement for effective air traffic control forming the basis for controller decision making and performance. To develop a better understanding of the role of situation awareness in air traffic control, an analysis was performed to determine the specific situation awareness requirements for air traffic control. This was conducted as a goal-direct task analysis in which the major goals, subgoals, decisions and associated situation awareness requirements for En Route Air Traffic Control (ATC) were delineated based on elicitation from eight experienced Air Traffic Control Specialists. This effort was supported by available task analyses and video-tapes of simulated air traffic control tasks. A determination of the major situation awareness requirements for En Route ATC was developed from this analysis, providing a foundation for future system development which seeks to enhance controller situation awareness and provides a basis for the development of situation awareness...

A knowledge-based decision aid for enhanced situational awareness

Abstract: This paper describes a multi-year research and development effort to develop a system for performing situation assessment in next-generation Army helicopters. We first provide a formal definition of situation assessment and describe the motivation for the architecture based on studies in human cognition and attention. The paper describes the overall architecture and the processing paradigm used in performing situation assessment. In particular, we show how extensive knowledge about the battlefield, the threat, terrain, enemy and friendly doctrine can be used to aid in performing situation assessment. We also show how the overall inferencing process can be controlled in such a way as to bound the requirements for scarce computational resources. We describe a system composed of three independent reasoning subsystems performing recognition, evaluation and prediction. We also describe the knowledge bases and important data structures used in developing the system. >

Communication Research in Aviation and Space Operations: Symptoms and Strategies of Crew Coordination

Abstract: The day-to-day operators of today's aerospace systems work under increasing pressures to accomplish more with less. They work in operational systems which are complex, technology-based, and high-risk; in which incidents and accidents have far-reaching and costly consequences. For these and other reasons, there is concern that the safety net formerly built upon redundant systems and abundant resources may become overburdened. Although we know that human ingenuity can overcome incredible odds, human nature can also fail in unpredictable ways. Over the last 20 years, a large percentage of aviation accidents and incidents have been attributed to human errors rather than hardware or environmental factors alone. A class of errors have been identified which are not due to a lack of individual, technical competencies. Rather, they are due to the failure of teams to utilize readily available resources or information in a timely fashion. These insights began a training revolution in the aviation industry called Cockpit Resource Management, which later became known as Crew Resource Management (CRM) as its concepts and applications extended to teams beyond the flightdeck. Then, as now, communication has been a cornerstone in CRM training since crew coordination and resource management largely resides within information transfer processes--both within flightcrews, and between flightcrews and the ground operations teams that support them. The research I will describe takes its roots in CRM history as we began to study communication processes in order to discover symptoms of crew coordination problems, as well as strategies of effective crew management. On the one hand, communication is often the means or the tool by which team members manage their resources, solve problems, maintain situational awareness and procedural discipline. Conversely, it is the lack of planning and resource management, loss of vigilance and situational awareness, and non-standard communications that are implicated in accidents and incidents. NASA/Ames Crew Factors researchers have been developing a model of effective crew coordination in order to understand the sources of performance breakdowns, and to develop effective solutions and interventions. Because communication is a primary mechanism by which information is received and transmitted, and because it is observable behavior, we focus on these group processes in order to identify patterns of communication that distinguish effective from less effective crew performance. Since a prime objective is to develop training recommendations for enhancing communication skills, we interpret our findings in the context of relevant task and environmental conditions, role and procedural constraints, and the normal real-time parameters of flight operations. Another research objective is to consider how communication and coordination can be enhanced through design. For example, flight deck and hardware design as well as procedural and software design may greatly influence the efficiency with which crews communicate and coordinate their work. In addition, teams and tasks may be designed, organized, and trained so that team interactions with each other are based upon appropriately shared knowledge, procedures and situation awareness. In short, we are interested in enhancing communication practices through (1) the training of specific communication skills, and (2) the design of equipment, tasks, procedures, and teams that optimize smooth, unambiguous communication processes. Two examples of communication research will be described; one in aviation and one in space operations. The first example is a high-fidelity full mission simulation study which investigates the affect of flightdeck automation on crew coordination and communication (contrasting crew performance in the DC-9 vs. MD88). Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Improving air traffic control: Proving new tools or approving the joint human-machine system?

Abstract: From the description of a field problem (i.e., designing decision aids for air traffic controllers), this paper points out how a cognitive engineering approach provides the milestones for the evaluation of future joint human-machine systems.

The Battle Command Support System: A Command and Control System for Force XXI.

Abstract: : The current command and control system (C2) will not enhance command and control in the twenty-first century. Since the inception of the American staff system, the US Army has increased the number of personnel and command posts within the division structure. This top heavy organization requires "rethinking" to make it adaptable for the new environments expected in the next century. Initially, this monograph will review the evolutionary development of staffs and CPs, then the doctrinal development. By using established criteria and examination of historical development, this paper will establish a command and control system model for Force XXI and compare it with current systems. The monograph concludes that the current heavy division command and control system would benefit from a modular approach for both staff and facilities. The concept recommends the adoption of a battle command vehicle (BCV) for commanders that has the mobility and survivability of other heavy division vehicles. Enhanced use of the command and control vehicle is explored as a forward or assault CP capable of fighting both close and deep battles, while a main or rearward CP of high mobility, multiwheeled vehicles with shelters, provides a mobile, deployable facility capable of split-based operations. Concepts for integration of technological enhancements will enable staffs to be more efficient and improve situational awareness in a future C2 system.

Airborne tactical information management system in-cockpit mission replanning and rehearsal (ATIMS/ICMRR)

Abstract: The United States Navy Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Programs is developing an Airborne Tactical Information Management System (ATIMS) capability under the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR-32) Real Time Support for Joint Power Projection Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) program. The ATIMS project is leveraging modular processing, advanced display and virtual reality technology to demonstrate a capability that provides enhanced flight situation awareness of engagement parameters, exploitation of information for mission alternative selection and more responsive unit level mission planning and rehearsal. The ATIMS project is focused on developing tactical information management and cockpit automation technology to simultaneously reduce pilot workload, reduce system avionics cost, enhance operational flexibility and increase mission effectiveness for air-to-air or air-to-ground combat operations. In a cooperative effort with the Air Force Avionics Directorate, Wright Laboratory (WL/AART-3), the In-Cockpit Mission Replanning and Rehearsal (ICMRR) program is providing ATIMS concept development, long-term master planning and technology demonstration integration support. >

Crewman's associate advanced technology demonstration

Abstract: Data-fused panoramic displays are currently being developed to provide decision support to military pilots in air-to-air combat environments. This paper reports the findings from a series of studies conducted using simulated data-fused explanatory displays. The displays provided explanations, rather than advice, in an endeavour to keep the pilot in the decision 1oop while improving the accuracy and/or speed of his mission-critical decisions. In addition to the basic display of the threat type, speed and direction (the control condition), three forms of explanatory displays were presented: text only, graphics only, and text aidgraphics (redundant). These displays provided information regarding the hostile aircraft's missile engagement zones and success envelopes. For effective human-system interaction, an appropriate level of operator trust is required. A critical determinant of trust is the transparency of the system interface, which should allow the operator to assess the system's accuracy. Two experiments were conducted to investigate the issues of trust and transparency of the different display formats used in the decision support system. Participants were asked to identify the highest threat posed by three hostile aircraft in an air combat scenario in the first experiment, and to assess whether explanations generated for a single hostile aircraft were correct or incorrect in the second. The scenarios, which were designed to present real-world decision tasks, were developed through discussions with RAF aircrew. Low trust was found to have a negative impact on decision-making and situational awareness, with subjects in the low trust condition making fewer correct decisions and reporting lower levels of subjective situational awareness than subjects in the high trust condition. Decision-making with low trust was particularly impaired in the text only condition. Poorer memory for hostile aircraft was observed where explanations were provided, compared to the control condition, in which no explanations were provided. The inability of subjects to identify erroneous textual explanations suggested a lack of transparency in the textual explanations. These results are discussed with regard to the implications of the different display formats for decision-making and situational awareness with data-fused cockpit displays.

The Dynamic Synchronization Matrix: An Automated Decision Support Tool for the Campaign Planning Staff

Abstract: : Synchronization is "the ability to focus resources and activities in time and space to produce maximum relative combat power at the decisive point." This is a tenet of US Army doctrine. This monograph reviews the concept of synchronization at the operational level, and provides campaign staffs with a decision support tool in order to improve operational level planning and execution for the employment of joint US military forces. Operational synchronization is more complex than simply massing "operational level" combat power at the "operationally" decisive point. Commanders and their staffs must be capable of conceptualizing, or "visualizing" across multiple forces and functions, and both their actions and effects through space over extended periods of time. This paper proposes an automated technique (labeled the "Dynamic Synchronization Matrix") for synchronizing forces at the operational level. The Dynamic Synchronization Matrix is a simple adaptation of a commercial project management program, run on a personal computer, which improves upon existing capabilities because it combines the two distinct major improvements of PERT methodology and automation. This decision support tool improves upon the two dimensional synchronization matrices that enable modern tactical planning, command and control by making connections between time, space, forces, functions, actions, and effects which the average human would have difficulty making and storing. The net gains in employing the DSM include more disciplined planning, greater flexibility in subsequent planning and execution, multiple display options, greater speed, agility, and accuracy, enhanced situational awareness and information management, insights into one's own plans, and enemy strengths and vulnerabilities, and linkage and applicability to subordinate echelons and other levels of war.

Collected Papers of the Soar/IFOR Project: Spring 1994

Abstract: The summer of 1992, the Soar/IFOR research group has been building intelligent automated agents for tactical air simulation. The ultimate goal of this project is to develop automated pilots whose behavior in simulated engagements is indistinguishable from that of human pilots. This technical report is a collection of the research papers that have been generated from this project as of Spring 1994. The research covered in these papers spans a wide spectrum of issues in agent development such as explanation, managing situational awareness, managing multiple interacting goals, coordination between multiple agents, natural language processing, developing believable agents, event tracking, and the infrastructure to support agent development, including knowledge acquisition and use, interfacing to simulation environments, and developing low cost simulators.

Operator modeling in commerical aviation: Cognitive models, intelligent displays, and pilot's assistants

Abstract: One of the goals of the National Aviation Safety/Automation program is to address the issue of human-centered automation in the cockpit. Human-centered automation is automation that, in the cockpit, enhances or assists the crew rather than replacing them. The Georgia Tech research program focused on this general theme, with emphasis on designing a computer-based pilot's assistant, intelligent (i.e, context-sensitive) displays, and an intelligent tutoring system for understanding and operating the autoflight system. In particular, the aids and displays were designed to enhance the crew's situational awareness of the current state of the automated flight systems and to assist the crew's situational awareness of the current state of the automated flight systems and to assist the crew in coordinating the autoflight system resources. The activities of this grant included: (1) an OFMspert to understand pilot navigation activities in a 727 class aircraft; (2) an extension of OFMspert to understand mode control in a glass cockpit, Georgia Tech Crew Activity Tracking System (GT-CATS); (3) the design of a training system to teach pilots about the vertical navigation portion of the flight management system -VNAV Tutor; and (4) a proof-of-concept display, using existing display technology, to facilitate mode awareness, particularly in situations in which controlled flight into terrain (CFIT) is a potential.

Certification of tactics and strategies in aviation

Abstract: The paper suggests that the 'tactics and strategies' notion is a highly suitable paradigm to describe the cognitive involvement of human operators in advanced aviation systems (far more suitable than classical functional analysis), and that the workload and situational awareness of operators are intimately associated with the planning and execution of their tactics and strategies. If system designers have muddled views about the collective tactics and strategies to be used during operation, they will produce sub-optimum designs. If operators use unproven and/or inappropriate tactics and strategies, the system may fail. The author wants to make a point that, beyond certification of people or system designs, there may be a need to go into more detail and examine (certify?) the set of tactics and strategies (i.e., the Operational Concept) which makes the people and systems perform as expected. The collective tactics and strategies determine the information flows and situational awareness which exists in organizations and composite human-machine systems. The available infrastructure and equipment (automation) enable these information flows and situational awareness, but are at the same time the constraining factor. Frequently, the tactics and strategies are driven by technology, whereas we would rather like to see a system designed to support an optimized Operational Concept, i.e., to support a sufficiently coherent, cooperative and modular set of anticipation and planning mechanisms. Again, in line with the view of MacLeod and Taylor (1993), this technology driven situation may be caused by the system designer's and operator job designer's over-emphasis on functional analysis (a mechanistic engineering concept), at the expense of a subject which does not seem to be well understood today: the role of the (human cognitive and/or automated) tactics and strategies which are embedded in composite human-machine systems. Research would be needed to arrive at a generally accepted 'planning theory' which can elevate the analysis, description and design of tactics and strategies from today's cottage industry methods to an engineering discipline. The available infrastructure and equipment (automation) enable these information flows and situational awareness, but are at the same time the constraining factor. Frequently, the tactics and strategies are driven by technology, whereas we would rather like to see a system designed to support an optimized Operational Concept, i.e., to support a sufficiently coherent, cooperative and modular set of anticipation and planning mechanisms. Again, in line with the view of MacLeod and Taylor (1993), this technology driven situation may be caused by the system designer's and operator job designer's over-emphasis on functional analysis (a mechanistic engineering concept), at the expense of a subject which does not seem to be well understood today: the role of the (human cognitive and/or automated) tactics and strategies which are embedded in composite human-machine systems. Research would be needed to arrive at a generally accepted 'planning theory' which can evaluate the analysis, description and design of tactics and strategies from today's cottage industry methods to an engineering discipline.