Human-Machine Systems

Question 1

What are some of the benefits of automation technology within aviation systems?

Answer 1

• Fuel efficiency
• All weather flying
• Safety
• Decreased workload
• Increased performance

Question 2

Describe the costs of automation-induced complacency?

Answer 2

• Reduced monitoring efficiency which leads to a loss of situational awareness
• Reduction in task engagement
• Loss of manual skills

Question 3

What are the benefits of adaptive function allocation?

Answer 3

• Reduces mental workload
• Improves monitoring efficiency/performance
• Improves situation awareness
• Ensures maintenance of manual skills

Question 4

According to the Fitts’ List, humans surpass machines in what ways?

Answer 4

->The ability to detect small amounts of visual or acoustic energy ->The ability to perceive patterns of light or sound ->The ability to improvise and use flexible procedures ->The ability to store very large amounts of information for long periods and to recall relevant facts at appropriate time ->The ability to reason inductively ->The ability to exercise judgment

Question 5

According to the Fitts’ List, machines surpass humans in what ways?

Answer 5

->The ability to respond quickly to control signals, and to apply great force smoothly and precisely ->The ability to perform repetitive, routine tasks ->The ability to store information briefly and then to erase it completely ->The ability to reason deductively, including computational ability ->The ability to handle highly complex operations, i.e., to do many different things at once

Question 6

What are some of the costs of automation technology in aviation systems?

Answer 6

• Reduced SA
• Increased mental workload
• Degradation of manual skills
• Trouble reverting to manual control in emergencies

Question 7

What are the four types of automation according to Parasuraman, Wickens, and Sheridan (2000)?

Answer 7

1. Information acquisition
2. Information analysis
3. Decision and action selection
4. Action implementation

Question 8

What are the 10 levels of automation that were proposed by Parasuraman, Wickens, and Sheridan (2000)?

Answer 8

The levels of automation are a set of 10 levels in which full human operator control/responsibility is the lowest level (1) and full automation control/responsibility is the highest level (10). The levels are as follows…

1. The computer offers no assistance, the human must take all decisions and actions
2. The computer offers a complete set of decision/action alternatives
3. The computer narrows the selection down to a few
4. The computer suggests one decision/action
5. The computer executes the above suggestion if the human approves
6. The computer allows the human a restriced time to veto before automatic execution
7. The computer executes automatically, then necessarily informs the human
8. The computer informs the human only if asked
9. The computer informs the human only if it, the computer, decides to
10. The computer decides everything, acts autonomously, ignoring the human

Keep in mind that these levels were created specifically for the “Decision and Action Selection” stage. The other stages/types of automation may not necessarily have as many levels.