Situation awareness

About: Situation awareness is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 7380 publications have been published within this topic receiving 108695 citations. The topic is also known as: SA & situational awareness.

On the Design of Adaptive Automation for Complex Systems

Abstract: This article presents a constrained review of human factors issues relevant to adaptive automation (AA), including designing complex system interfaces to support AA, facilitating human–computer interaction and crew interactions in adaptive system operations, and considering workload associated with AA management in the design of human roles in adaptive systems. Unfortunately, these issues have received limited attention in earlier reviews of AA. This work is aimed at supporting a general theory of human-centered automation advocating humans as active information processors in complex system control loops to support situation awareness and effective performance. The review demonstrates the need for research into user-centered design of dynamic displays in adaptive systems. It also points to the need for discretion in designing transparent interfaces to facilitate human awareness of modes of automated systems. Finally, the review identifies the need to consider critical human–human interactions in designing adaptive systems. This work describes important branches of a developing framework of AA research and contributes to the general theory of human-centered automation.

An Augmented Reality System for Military Operations in Urban Terrain

Abstract: : Many future military operations are expected to occur in urban environments. These complex, 3D battlefields introduce many challenges to the dismounted warfighter. Better situational awareness is required for effective operation in urban environments. However, delivering this information to the dismounted warfighter is extremely difficult. For example, maps draw a user's attention away from the environment and cannot directly represent the three-dimensional nature of the terrain. To overcome these difficulties, we are developing the Battlefield Augmented Reality System (BARS). The system consists of a wearable computer, a wireless network system, and a tracked see-through head-mounted display (HMD). The computer generates graphics that, from the user's perspective, appear to be aligned with the actual environment. For example, a building could be augmented to show its name, a plan of its interior, icons to represent reported sniper locations, and the names of adjacent streets. This paper surveys the current state of development of BARS and describes ongoing research efforts. We describe four major research areas. The first is the development of an effective, efficient user interface for displaying data and processing user inputs. The second is the capability for collaboration between multiple BARS users and other systems. Third, we describe the current hardware for both a mobile and indoor prototype system. Finally, we describe initial efforts to formally evaluate the capabilities of the system from a user's perspective through scenario analysis. We also will discuss the use of the BARS system in STRICOM's Embedded Training initiative.

Situation Awareness Information Dominance & Information Warfare.

Abstract: : Information warfare and its primary objective of achieving information dominance over enemy forces have arisen as a major area of emphasis for future military actions. The concept of information dominance and the issues involved in attaining it are explored through a model of situation awareness within the context of the type of complex, distributed crews (or military units) envisioned in future military operations. Achieving information dominance involves far more than having more data than the enemy. It will require that available data be transformed into relevant information in a timely manner for a multitude of forces, each with varied and dynamically changing but inter-related information needs. Further, the information must be properly understood by each within the context of a joint mission. The difficulty of accomplishing this task is not to be underestimated, however. This is exactly where an understanding of situation awareness and the factors that impact it are essential. By examining what is known about how people access, assimilate and interpret information to develop situation awareness as well as how this fits within the decision making and action cycle, clear directions for the development of systems to support the goal of information dominance can be established.

Exploring the Many Perspectives of Distributed Air Traffic Management: The Multi Aircraft Control System MACS

Abstract: This paper describes motivation, design, current and potential future application of the Multi Aircraft Control System (MACS). MACS is a powerful research tool that is being developed at NASA Ames Research Center to increase the overall realism and flexibility of human-in-theloop air traffic simulations. MACS is designed to enable many participants to be included in the same simulation, onor off-site. Each MACS station is a platform independent Java program that provides user interfaces and views for pilots, air traffic controllers/managers, airline dispatchers, experiment managers, and observers. Any station can serve as a mid-fidelity input device, an autonomous agent or a display for any perspective of a distributed air traffic management simulation. MACS is laid out for rapid prototyping of user interfaces, air traffic control as well as flight management and guidance functions. Domain and human-factors experts can collaborate with software engineers, quickly prototype new features and operational concepts and evaluate them from different perspectives. In this paper we present some of the currently available views, cover specific research capabilities such as repeatable situation awareness probes, describe the overall simulation layout, and give an example of MACS usage in a Distributed Air Ground simulation study that is currently being conducted at NASA Ames Research Center. Funding for this work was provided by the Advanced Air Transportation Technologies Project of NASA's Airspace Systems Program.